House Bill Would Make Medicare Telehealth Permanent, Drop In-Person Mental Health Visit Requirement

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on 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.

Introduced in House

HHS releases telehealth accessibility guidance and training (disability + language access)

Patients are more likely to get captions, transcripts, interpreter workflows, and clearer instructions so visits actually work

HHS releases telehealth billing/privacy training for providers

Clinics and doctors get clearer how-to help on Medicare telehealth rules, which can reduce billing mistakes and appointment hassles

HHS reviews quality measures to make sure telehealth is included

Telehealth visits are more likely to “count” in quality tracking, which can influence how care is improved and how providers are compared

CMS posts public telehealth data online and updates it every quarter

People can see clearer info about telehealth use, costs, and outcomes in Medicare, which can flag access gaps or problem areas

Medicare’s geographic limits for telehealth are removed

Medicare telehealth is no longer limited to certain rural/shortage areas; more people in cities/suburbs can qualify

Medicare payment rules continue for FQHC and rural health clinic telehealth after the initial period

Community clinics have more stable payment so they can keep offering telehealth appointments

Special originating-site flexibility begins for Indian Health Service, tribal, and Native Hawaiian facilities

More patients served by these facilities can use telehealth without the usual site restrictions