Equal Access to Care Act

Bill: 117-s-155
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX]
Introduced: 2021-02-02
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health personnel

Health technology, devices, supplies

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Intergovernmental relations

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Licensing and registrations

Prescription drugs

State and local government operations

Telephone and wireless communication
Latest action: action_date: 2021-02-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Equal Access to Care Act</b></p> <p>This bill temporarily authorizes a health care provider who is physically located and duly licensed in one state to provide telehealth services to individuals in one or more additional states in which the provider is not licensed during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) emergency period.</p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 155 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 2, 2021 Mr. Cruz (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To permit a licensed health care provider to provide health care services to individuals in one or more States in which the provider is not licensed.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equal Access to Care Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) In public health emergencies, such as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, it is of paramount importance to deliver medical resources to impacted areas where the need is greatest. (2) Technologies that allow health care providers to deliver care across great distances can deliver medical care into impacted areas, including mental health services and maintenance care for chronic illnesses. (3) Technologies that allow health care providers to deliver care across great distances can thereby free local providers to address community needs that providers can only address in person. (4) Under the Constitution, the Commerce Clause grants Congress the authority to regulate commerce among the States. 3. Interstate telemedicine (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period described in subsection (b), in the case of a physician, practitioner, or other health care provider who is licensed or otherwise legally authorized to provide health care services in a primary State, and who provides such health care services in interstate commerce through electronic information or telecommunication technologies to an individual in a secondary State, the location of the provision of such services shall be deemed to be the primary State and any requirement that such physician, practitioner, or other provider obtain a comparable license or other comparable legal authorization from the secondary State with respect to the provision of such services (including requirements relating to the prescribing of drugs in such secondary State) shall not apply. (b) Period described The period described in this subsection is the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date that is 180 days after the date on which the national emergency declared by the President under the National Emergencies Act ( 50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.) with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) ends. (c) Review of regulations The head of each Federal agency shall review existing guidance and regulations to identify any such guidance or regulations that may conflict with the provisions of this section. If the head of an agency finds any such conflict, notwithstanding any other provision of law, such agency head shall, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, issue revised guidance or regulations to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) Health care services The term health care services shall not include services of the type for which funding is prohibited under the requirements contained in Public Law 116–94 as relating to funds for programs authorized under sections 330 through 340 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 254 through 256). (2) Primary State The term primary State means, with respect to the provision of health care services by a physician, practitioner, or other health care provider in interstate commerce through electronic information or telecommunication technologies, the State in which such physician, practitioner, or provider is physically located and licensed. (3) Secondary State The term secondary State means, with respect to the provision of health care services by a physician, practitioner, or other health care provider in interstate commerce through electronic information or telecommunication technologies, a State in which such physician, practitioner, or other provider is not physically located or licensed.