Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.

Specifically, the bill permanently (1) removes geographic restrictions on originating sites (i.e., the location of the beneficiary), (2) allows the home of the beneficiary to serve as the originating site for all services, (3) allows federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner), and (4) expands coverage to include audio-only services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.

Bill 117 HR 5425, also known as the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to improve access to telehealth services for individuals living in rural areas.

The bill proposes several key provisions to achieve this goal. Firstly, it seeks to expand the types of healthcare providers who are eligible to provide telehealth services in rural areas. This would allow more individuals to receive care remotely, without having to travel long distances to see a healthcare provider in person.

Additionally, the bill aims to increase funding for telehealth infrastructure in rural areas. This would help to ensure that individuals in these areas have access to the necessary technology and resources to participate in telehealth appointments. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to improve reimbursement rates for telehealth services in rural areas. By increasing reimbursement rates, healthcare providers would be more incentivized to offer telehealth services to individuals in rural communities. Overall, the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act is designed to address the unique challenges faced by individuals living in rural areas when it comes to accessing healthcare services. By expanding access to telehealth services and improving reimbursement rates, this bill has the potential to greatly improve healthcare outcomes for individuals in rural communities.