Sec. 303. Increasing convenience for Medicare Advantage enrollees through telehealth

456 words·~2 min read·/bill/115/hr/4579/ih/section-303

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Section 1852 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–22 ) is amended— in subsection (a)(1)(B)(i), by inserting , subject to subsection (m), after means ; and by adding at the end the following new subsection: For plan year 2020 and subsequent plan years, subject to the requirements of paragraph (3), an MA plan may provide additional telehealth benefits (as defined in paragraph (2)) to individuals enrolled under this part. For purposes of this subsection and section 1854— The term additional telehealth benefits means services— for which benefits are available under part B, including services for which payment is not made under section 1834(m) due to the conditions for payment under such section; and that are identified as clinically appropriate to furnish using electronic information and telecommunications technology when a physician (as defined in section 1861(r)) or practitioner (described in section 1842(b)(18)(C)) providing the service is not at the same location as the plan enrollee.

The term additional telehealth benefits does not include capital and infrastructure costs and investments relating to such benefits. Not later than November 30, 2018, the Secretary shall solicit comments on— what types of items and services (including those provided through supplemental health care benefits) should be considered to be additional telehealth benefits; and the requirements for the provision or furnishing of such benefits (such as licensure, training, and coordination requirements).

The Secretary shall specify requirements for the provision or furnishing of additional telehealth benefits, including with respect to the following: Physician or practitioner licensure and other requirements such as specific training. Factors necessary to ensure the coordination of such benefits with items and services furnished in-person. Such other areas as determined by the Secretary. If an MA plan provides a service as an additional telehealth benefit (as defined in paragraph (2))— the MA plan shall also provide access to such benefit through an in-person visit (and not only as an additional telehealth benefit); and an individual enrollee shall have discretion as to whether to receive such service through the in-person visit or as an additional telehealth benefit.

For purposes of this subsection and section 1854, additional telehealth benefits shall be treated as if they were benefits under the original Medicare fee-for-service program option. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as affecting the requirement under subsection (a)(1) that MA plans provide enrollees with items and services (other than hospice care) for which benefits are available under parts A and B, including benefits available under section 1834(m). . Section 1854(a)(6)(A)(ii)(I) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–24(a)(6)(A)(ii)(I) ) is amended by inserting , including, for plan year 2020 and subsequent plan years, the provision of additional telehealth benefits as described in section 1852(m) before the semicolon at the end.

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42 USC 1395w–22
42 USC 1395w–24(a)(6)(A)(ii)(I)

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Sec. 303

Increasing convenience for Medicare Advantage enrollees through telehealth

Cite42 USC 1395w–22

Cite42 USC 1395w–24(a)(6)(A)(ii)(I)

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