[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1512 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1512
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to
telehealth services, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2021
Mr. Schatz (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Thune, Mr. Warner,
Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Tester, Mr. Portman, Mr. Heinrich, Ms. Murkowski,
Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Daines, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Scott of South Carolina,
Mr. King, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Smith, Mr. Sasse, Mr.
Van Hollen, Ms. Collins, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr.
Boozman, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Inhofe, Mr.
Kaine, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Ernst, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Moran, Mr.
Sanders, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Coons, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Warnock, Mr. Blunt,
Mr. Bennet, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Booker, Mr. Graham,
Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Cassidy) 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 expand access to
telehealth services, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Creating
Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies
(CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021'' or the ``CONNECT for Health Act of
2021''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and sense of Congress.
TITLE I--REMOVING BARRIERS TO TELEHEALTH COVERAGE
Sec. 101. Expanding the use of telehealth through the waiver of
requirements.
Sec. 102. Removing geographic requirements for telehealth services.
Sec. 103. Expanding originating sites.
Sec. 104. Use of telehealth in emergency medical care.
Sec. 105. Improvements to the process for adding telehealth services.
Sec. 106. Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
Sec. 107. Native American health facilities.
Sec. 108. Waiver of telehealth requirements during public health
emergencies.
Sec. 109. Use of telehealth in recertification for hospice care.
TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY
Sec. 201. Clarification for fraud and abuse laws regarding technologies
provided to beneficiaries.
Sec. 202. Additional resources for telehealth oversight.
Sec. 203. Provider and beneficiary education on telehealth.
TITLE III--DATA AND TESTING OF MODELS
Sec. 301. Study on telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sec. 302. Analysis of telehealth waivers in alternative payment models.
Sec. 303. Model to allow additional health professionals to furnish
telehealth services.
Sec. 304. Testing of models to examine the use of telehealth under the
Medicare program.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The use of technology in health care and coverage of
telehealth services are rapidly evolving.
(2) Research has found that telehealth services can expand
access to care, improve the quality of care, and reduce
spending, and that patients receiving telehealth services are
satisfied with their experiences.
(3) Health care workforce shortages are a significant
problem in many areas and for many types of health care
clinicians.
(4) Telehealth increases access to care in areas with
workforce shortages and for individuals who live far away from
health care facilities, have limited mobility or
transportation, or have other barriers to accessing care.
(5) The use of health technologies can strengthen the
expertise of the health care workforce, including by connecting
clinicians to specialty consultations.
(6) Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of
telehealth services in the Medicare program under title XVIII
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) was low,
with only 0.25 percent of Medicare fee-for-service
beneficiaries utilizing telehealth services in 2016.
(7) The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated additional benefits
of telehealth, including reducing infection risk of patients
and health care professionals and conserving space in health
care facilities, and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommended that telehealth services should be
optimized, when available and appropriate, during the pandemic.
(8) Long-term certainty about coverage of telehealth
services under the Medicare program is necessary to fully
realize the benefits of telehealth.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) health care providers can furnish safe, effective, and
high-quality health care services through telehealth;
(2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services should
promptly take all necessary measures to ensure that providers
and beneficiaries can continue to furnish and utilize,
respectively, telehealth services in the Medicare program
during and after the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic,
including modifying, as appropriate, the definition of
``interactive telecommunications system'' in regulations and
program instruction under the Medicare program to ensure that
providers can utilize all appropriate means and types of
technology, including audio-visual, audio-only, and other types
of technologies, to furnish telehealth services; and
(3) barriers to the use of telehealth should be removed.
TITLE I--REMOVING BARRIERS TO TELEHEALTH COVERAGE
SEC. 101. EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH THROUGH THE WAIVER OF
REQUIREMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), by striking ``and (7)'' and
inserting ``(7), and (9)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(9) Authority to waive requirements and limitations.--
``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the preceding
provisions of this subsection, in the case of
telehealth services furnished on or after January 1,
2022, the Secretary may waive any requirement described
in subparagraph (B) that is applicable to payment for
telehealth services under this subsection, but only if
the Secretary determines that such waiver would not
adversely impact quality of care.
``(B) Requirements described.--For purposes of this
paragraph, requirements applicable to payment for
telehealth services under this subsection are--
``(i) requirements relating to
qualifications for an originating site under
paragraph (4)(C)(ii);
``(ii) any geographic requirement under
paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other than applicable
State law requirements, including State
licensure requirements);
``(iii) any limitation on the type of
technology used to furnish telehealth services;
``(iv) any limitation on the types of
practitioners who are eligible to furnish
telehealth services (other than the requirement
that the practitioner is enrolled under this
title);
``(v) any limitation on specific services
designated as telehealth services pursuant to
this subsection (provided the Secretary
determines that such services are clinically
appropriate to furnish remotely); or
``(vi) any other limitation relating to the
furnishing of telehealth services under this
title identified by the Secretary.
``(C) Waiver implementation.--In implementing a
waiver under this paragraph, the Secretary may
establish parameters, as appropriate, for telehealth
services under such waiver, including with respect to
payment of a facility fee for originating sites and
beneficiary and program integrity protections.
``(D) Public comment.--The Secretary shall
establish a process by which stakeholders may (on at
least an annual basis) provide public comment on
waivers under this paragraph.
``(E) Periodic review of waivers.--The Secretary
shall periodically, but not more often than every 3
years, reassess each waiver under this paragraph to
determine whether the waiver continues to meet the
quality of care condition applicable under subparagraph
(A). The Secretary shall terminate any waiver that does
not continue to meet such condition.''.
(b) Posting of Information.--Not later than 2 years after the date
on which a waiver under section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act,
as added by subsection (a), first becomes effective, and at least every
2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
post on the Internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services--
(1) the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving
telehealth services by reason of each waiver under such
section;
(2) the impact of such waivers on expenditures and
utilization under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); and
(3) other outcomes, as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
SEC. 102. REMOVING GEOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by section 101, is amended--
(1) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I),
by inserting ``and clause (iii)'' after ``and (9)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) Removal of geographic
requirements.--The geographic requirements
described in clause (i) shall not apply with
respect to telehealth services furnished on or
after the date of the enactment of this
clause.''.
SEC. 103. EXPANDING ORIGINATING SITES.
(a) Expanding the Home as an Originating Site.--Section
1834(m)(4)(C)(ii)(X) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)(X)) is amended to read as follows:
``(X)(aa) Prior to the date of
enactment of the CONNECT for Health Act
of 2021, the home of an individual but
only for purposes of section
1881(b)(3)(B) or telehealth services
described in paragraph (7).
``(bb) On or after such date of
enactment, the home of an
individual.''.
(b) Allowing Additional Originating Sites.--Section
1834(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subclause:
``(XII) Any other site determined
appropriate by the Secretary at which
an eligible telehealth individual is
located at the time a telehealth
service is furnished via a
telecommunications system.''.
(c) Parameters for New Originating Sites.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by
section 102, is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iv) Requirements for new sites.--
``(I) In general.--The Secretary
may establish requirements for the
furnishing of telehealth services at
sites described in clause (ii)(XII) to
provide for beneficiary and program
integrity protections.
``(II) Clarification.--Nothing in
this clause shall be construed to
preclude the Secretary from
establishing requirements for other
originating sites described in clause
(ii)''.
(d) No Originating Site Facility Fee for New Sites.--Section
1834(m)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended--
(1) in the heading, by striking ``if originating site is
the home'' and inserting ``for certain sites''; and
(2) by striking ``paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X)'' and inserting
``subclause (X) or (XII) of paragraph (4)(C)''.
SEC. 104. USE OF TELEHEALTH IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.
(a) In General.--Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395m(m)), as amended by sections 101 and 102, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), by striking ``and (9)'' and
inserting ``(9), and (10)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) Treatment of emergency medical care furnished
through telehealth.--The geographic requirements described in
paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other than applicable State law
requirements, including State licensure requirements) shall not
apply with respect to telehealth services that are services for
emergency medical care (as determined by the Secretary)
furnished on or after January 1, 2022, to an eligible
telehealth individual.''.
(b) Additional Services.--As part of the implementation of the
amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall consider whether additional services should be added to
the services specified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) of section 1834(m) of
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m)) for authorized payment under paragraph (1)
of such section.
SEC. 105. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESS FOR ADDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
(a) Review.--The Secretary shall undertake a review of the process
established pursuant to section 1834(m)(4)(F)(ii) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)(ii)), and based on the results
of such review--
(1) implement revisions to the process so that the criteria
to add services prioritizes, as appropriate, improved access to
care through clinically appropriate telehealth services; and
(2) provide clarification on what requests to add
telehealth services under such process should include.
(b) Temporary Coverage of Certain Telehealth Services.--Section
1834(m)(4)(F) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) Temporary coverage of certain
telehealth services.--The Secretary may add
services with a reasonable potential likelihood
of clinical benefit and improved access to care
when furnished via a telecommunications system
(as determined by the Secretary) on a temporary
basis to those specified in clause (i) for
authorized payment under paragraph (1).''.
SEC. 106. FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND RURAL HEALTH CLINICS.
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)), as
amended by sections 101, 102, and 104, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), in the matter preceding
subclause (I), by inserting ``, (8)'' after ``(7)''; and
(2) in paragraph (8)--
(A) in the paragraph heading by inserting ``and
after'' after ``during'';
(B) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by
inserting ``and after such emergency period''
after ``1135(g)(1)(B)'';
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as
clause (iv); and
(iv) by inserting after clause (ii) the
following new clause:
``(iii) the geographic requirements
described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not
apply with respect to such a telehealth
service; and''; and
(C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the
following:
``(B) Payment.--
``(i) In general.--A telehealth service
furnished by a Federally qualified health
center or a rural health clinic to an
individual pursuant to this paragraph on or
after the date of the enactment of this
subparagraph shall be deemed to be so furnished
to such individual as an outpatient of such
clinic or facility (as applicable) for purposes
of paragraph (1) or (3), respectively, of
section 1861(aa) and payable as a Federally
qualified health center service or rural health
clinic service (as applicable) under the
prospective payment system established under
section 1834(o) or under section 1833(a)(3),
respectively.
``(ii) Treatment of costs for fqhc pps
calculations and rhc air calculations.--Costs
associated with the delivery of telehealth
services by a Federally qualified health center
or rural health clinic serving as a distant
site pursuant to this paragraph shall be
considered allowable costs for purposes of the
prospective payment system established under
section 1834(o) and any payment methodologies
developed under section 1833(a)(3), as
applicable.''.
SEC. 107. NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH FACILITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by sections 101, 102, and 103,
is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by striking ``clause (iii)'' and
inserting ``clauses (iii) and (v)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(v) Native american health facilities.--
With respect to telehealth services furnished
on or after January 1, 2022, the originating
site requirements described in clauses (i) and
(ii) shall not apply with respect to a facility
of the Indian Health Service, whether operated
by such Service, or by an Indian tribe (as that
term is defined in section 4 of the Indian
Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603))
or a tribal organization (as that term is
defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304)), or a facility of the Native
Hawaiian health care systems authorized under
the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act
(42 U.S.C. 11701 et seq.).''.
(b) No Originating Site Facility Fee for Certain Native American
Facilities.--Section 1834(m)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause
(I), by inserting ``(other than an originating site that is only
described in clause (v) of paragraph (4)(C), and does not meet the
requirement for an originating site under clauses (i) and (ii) of such
paragraph)'' after ``the originating site''.
SEC. 108. WAIVER OF TELEHEALTH REQUIREMENTS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH
EMERGENCIES.
Section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
5(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting
``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) Exception for waiver of telehealth
requirements during public health emergencies.--For
purposes of subsection (b)(8), in addition to the
emergency period described in subparagraph (B), an
`emergency area' is a geographical area in which, and
an `emergency period' is the period during which, there
exists a public health emergency declared by the
Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health
Service Act.''.
SEC. 109. USE OF TELEHEALTH IN RECERTIFICATION FOR HOSPICE CARE.
(a) In General.--Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II)) is amended by inserting
``and after such emergency period'' after ``1135(g)(1)(B)''.
(b) GAO Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit
a report to Congress evaluating the impact of the amendment made by
subsection (a) on--
(1) the number and percentage of beneficiaries recertified
for the Medicare hospice benefit at 180 days and for subsequent
benefit periods;
(2) the appropriateness for hospice care of the patients
recertified through the use of telehealth; and
(3) any other factors determined appropriate by the
Comptroller General.
TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY
SEC. 201. CLARIFICATION FOR FRAUD AND ABUSE LAWS REGARDING TECHNOLOGIES
PROVIDED TO BENEFICIARIES.
Section 1128A(i)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-
7a(i)(6)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``; or'' and inserting
a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(K) the provision of technologies (as defined by
the Secretary) on or after the date of the enactment of
this subparagraph, by a provider of services or
supplier (as such terms are defined for purposes of
title XVIII) directly to an individual who is entitled
to benefits under part A of title XVIII, enrolled under
part B of such title, or both, for the purpose of
furnishing telehealth services, remote patient
monitoring services, or other services furnished
through the use of technology (as defined by the
Secretary), if--
``(i) the technologies are not offered as
part of any advertisement or solicitation; and
``(ii) the provision of the technologies
meets any other requirements set forth in
regulations promulgated by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TELEHEALTH OVERSIGHT.
In addition to amounts otherwise available, there are authorized to
be appropriated to the Inspector General of the Department of Health
and Human Services for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, out of
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $3,000,000, to
remain available until expended, for purposes of conducting audits,
investigations, and other oversight and enforcement activities with
respect to telehealth services, remote patient monitoring services, or
other services furnished through the use of technology (as defined by
the Secretary).
SEC. 203. PROVIDER AND BENEFICIARY EDUCATION ON TELEHEALTH.
(a) Educational Resources and Training Sessions.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services shall develop and make available to beneficiaries and
health care professionals educational resources and training
sessions on requirements relating to the furnishing of
telehealth services under section 1834(m) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) and topics including--
(A) requirements for payment for telehealth
services;
(B) telehealth-specific health care privacy and
security training;
(C) utilizing telehealth services to engage and
support underserved, high-risk, and vulnerable patient
populations; and
(D) other topics as determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
(2) Accounting for age and other differences.--Such
resources and training sessions must account for age and
sociodemographic, geographic, cultural, cognitive, and
linguistic differences in how individuals interact with
technology.
(b) Quality Improvement Organizations.--The Secretary shall
consider including technical assistance, education, and training on
telehealth services as a required activity of the quality improvement
organizations described in section 1862(g) of the Social Security Act.
(c) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as
necessary to carry out the activities described in sections (a) and
(b).
TITLE III--DATA AND TESTING OF MODELS
SEC. 301. STUDY ON TELEHEALTH UTILIZATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall collect and analyze
qualitative and quantitative data on the impact of telehealth services,
virtual check-ins, remote patient monitoring services, and other
services furnished through the use of technology permitted by the
waiver or modification of certain requirements under title XVIII of the
Social Security Act (42 15 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and, as feasible, under
title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and any regulations
thereunder during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which may
include the collection of data regarding--
(1) health care utilization rates under such title XVIII
and, as feasible, under such title XIX, including utilization--
(A) in different types of areas;
(B) by race, ethnicity, or income levels; and
(C) of telehealth services furnished by different
types of health care professionals;
(2) health care quality, such as measured by hospital
readmission rates, missed appointment rates, patient and
provider satisfaction, or other appropriate measures;
(3) health outcomes of individuals utilizing telehealth
services;
(4) audio-only telehealth utilization rates when video-
based telehealth was not an option, including the types of
services and the types of providers treating individuals using
audio-only telehealth;
(5) waivers of State licensure requirements;
(6) the types of technologies utilized to deliver or
receive telehealth care and utilization rates, disaggregated by
type of technology (as applicable);
(7) challenges for providers in furnishing telehealth
services;
(8) the investments necessary for providers to effectively
provide telehealth services to their patients, including the
costs of necessary technology and of training staff; and
(9) any additional information determined appropriate by
the Secretary.
(b) Interim Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives an
interim report on the impact of telehealth based on the data collected
and analyzed under subsection (a). For the purposes of the interim
report, the Secretary may determine which data collected and analyzed
under such subsection is most appropriate to complete such report.
(c) Final Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a
final report on the impact of telehealth based on the data collected
and analyzed under subsection (a) that includes--
(1) conclusions regarding the impact of telehealth services
on health care delivery during the COVID-19 public health
emergency; and
(2) an estimation of total spending on telehealth services
under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et
seq.) and, as feasible, under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C.
1396 et seq.).
(d) Stakeholder Input.--For purposes of subsections (a), (b), and
(c), the Secretary shall seek input from the Medicare Payment Advisory
Commission, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, and
nongovernmental stakeholders, including patient organizations,
providers, and experts in telehealth.
(e) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as
necessary to carry out this section.
SEC. 302. ANALYSIS OF TELEHEALTH WAIVERS IN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT MODELS.
The second sentence of section 1115A(g) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 1315a(g)) is amended by inserting ``an analysis of waivers
(if applicable) under subsection (d)(1) related to telehealth and the
impact on quality and spending under the applicable titles of such
waivers,'' after ``subsection (c),''.
SEC. 303. MODEL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO FURNISH
TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1315a(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
clause:
``(xxviii) Allowing health professionals,
such as those described in section
1819(b)(5)(G) or section 1861(ll)(4)(B), who
are enrolled under section 1866(j) and not
otherwise eligible under section 1834(m) to
furnish telehealth services to furnish such
services.''.
SEC. 304. TESTING OF MODELS TO EXAMINE THE USE OF TELEHEALTH UNDER THE
MEDICARE PROGRAM.
Section 1115A(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1315a(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(D) Testing models to examine use of telehealth
under medicare.--The Secretary shall consider testing
under this subsection models to examine the use of
telehealth under title XVIII.''.
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