To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology.
This bill removes requirements that Medicare patients must have an in-person visit before receiving mental health services through telehealth or phone-based care. Currently, Medicare requires certain in-person appointments before allowing remote mental health treatment, which can create barriers for patients in rural areas or those with limited mobility. The bill applies to services provided by doctors, rural health clinics, and federally qualified health centers and eliminates geographic restrictions that have limited where patients can receive these remote mental health services. The changes take effect on July 1, 2019 for substance use disorder treatment and immediately following the end of the federal Public Health Emergency for general mental health services. The bill was introduced in May 2024 and referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means for consideration.
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