Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2024

Bill: 118-s-3651
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Introduced: 2024-01-24
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-01-24
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-01-24
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Telemental Health Care Access Act of </b><b>2024</b></p> <p>This bill eliminates certain restrictions relating to Medicare coverage of mental health services that are provided through telehealth. </p> <p>Current law allows for coverage of such services regardless of the geographic location of the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), as long as the beneficiary previously received in-person services and continues to receive in-person services at specified intervals (effective January 1, 2025). The bill eliminates these in-person requirements.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3651 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 24, 2024 Mr. Cassidy (for himself, Ms. Smith , Mr. Thune , and Mr. Cardin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure coverage of mental health services furnished through telehealth.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Telemental Health Care Access Act of 2024 . 2. Ensuring coverage for mental health services furnished through telehealth (a) In general Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking subject to subparagraph (B), ; (2) by striking (A) In general .—The geographic and inserting The geographic ; and (3) by striking subparagraph (B). (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section 123 of division CC of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 ( Public Law 116–260 ). 3. Study and report on utilization of mental health services furnished through telehealth Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report on the utilization of mental health services furnished through telehealth under section 1834(m)(7) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7) ), that includes any recommendations of the Secretary regarding— (1) fraud or abuse prevention with respect to such services; and (2) additional funding that the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services may require for purposes of conducting audits, investigations, and other oversight and enforcement activities with respect to the furnishing of such services.