Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act

12/30/2022, 4:02 PM

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.

Congress
117

Number
S - 1988

Introduced on
2021-06-09

# Amendments
0

Sponsors
+5

Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

6/9/2021

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

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.

Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedA bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect access to telehealth services under the Medicare program.

Policy Areas
Health

Potential Impact
Health care coverage and access
Health facilities and institutions
Health information and medical records
Health technology, devices, supplies
Home and outpatient care
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Medicare
Mental health
Rural conditions and development
Sound recording

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary11/20/2021

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 ...


Latest Action6/9/2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.