Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023

Bill: 118-hr-824
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-5]
Introduced: 2023-02-02
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Employee benefits and pensions

Health care costs and insurance

Health technology, devices, supplies
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill expands the exception for stand-alone telehealth benefits plans from certain requirements that generally apply to private health insurance plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.</p> <p>Under the bill, employers may offer stand-alone telehealth benefits to all employees. This includes employees who are eligible for enrollment in their employer's group health plan.</p> <p>Currently, employers may offer telehealth benefits to employees who are otherwise ineligible for the employer's group health plan. This flexibility applies during any plan year beginning before the end of the COVID-19 emergency.</p>

action_date: 2023-06-30
action_desc: Reported to House, Part I
text: <p><b>Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023</b></p> <p>This bill allows employers to offer stand-alone telehealth benefits to all employees. This includes employees who are eligible for enrollment in their employer's group health plan.</p> <p>Such stand-alone plans must comply with certain patient protections, including the prohibitions against (1) exclusion from coverage based on a preexisting condition, (2) discrimination based on health status, and (3) rescission of coverage.</p> <p>Currently, employers may offer telehealth benefits to employees who are otherwise ineligible for the employer's group health plan. This flexibility applies during any plan year beginning before the end of the COVID-19 emergency.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 824 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2023 Mr. Walberg (for himself, Ms. DelBene , Ms. Craig , Mr. Estes , Ms. Sherrill , and Mr. Allen ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce , and 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 XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat benefits for telehealth services offered under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage as excepted benefits.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2023 . 2. Treating benefits for telehealth services offered under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage as excepted benefits (a) PHSA (1) In general Section 2791(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(c)(2) ) is amended— (A) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and (B) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C) Benefits for telehealth services. . (2) Limitation on exception to group health plans and group health insurance coverage Section 2722(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 300gg–21(c)(1) ) is amended— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly; (B) by striking The requirements and inserting the following: (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the requirements. ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) Application of provisions in the case of individual health insurance coverage for certain excepted benefits The requirements of subparts I and II shall apply to any individual health insurance coverage in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 2791(c)(2)(C). . (b) ERISA Section 733(c)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ( 29 U.S.C. 1191b(c)(2) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C) Benefits for telehealth services. . (c) IRC Section 9832(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and (2) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph: (C) Benefits for telehealth services. . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.