To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

Bill: 117-hr-8497
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1]
Introduced: 2022-07-26
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2022-07-26
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-07-26
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill permanently removes in-person evaluation requirements for mental health telehealth services under Medicare. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8497 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 26, 2022 Mr. Hern (for himself, Mr. Curtis , and Mr. Bacon ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.

1. Removing the in-person requirements under medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology (a) Removing in-Person requirements for mental health services furnished through telehealth Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7) ) is amended to read as follows: (7) Treatment of substance use disorder services and mental health services furnished through telehealth The geographic requirements described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after July 1, 2019, to an eligible telehealth individual with a substance use disorder diagnosis for purposes of treatment of such disorder or co-occurring mental health disorder, as determined by the Secretary, or, on or after the first day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B), to an eligible telehealth individual for purposes of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of a mental health disorder, as determined by the Secretary, at an originating site described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii) (other than an originating site described in subclause (IX) of such paragraph) or, for the period for which clause (iii) of paragraph (4)(C) applies, at any site described in such clause. . (b) Mental health visits furnished by rural health clinics Section 1834(y) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(y) ) is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking to hospice patients ; and (2) in paragraph (2), by striking prior to the day that is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)) . (c) Mental health visits furnished by federally qualified health centers Section 1834(o)(4) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(o)(4) is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking to hospice patients ; and (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking prior to the day that is the 152nd day after the end of the emergency period described in section 1135(g)(1)(B)) .