Bill Details
HR.1899 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-03-06 - 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 Date
2025-03-06
Policy Area
Health
Committees
View committees (2)
Sponsors
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (1)
6
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0
AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would let Medicare pay for certain telehealth visits that are done by phone only, without video. It changes current Medicare rules so that covered telehealth services can still be provided and reimbursed when a video connection is not available or not used, starting with the emergency period named in federal law. In simple terms, it aims to make it easier for people to get remote medical care over an ordinary phone call.
- It changes the Social Security Act rules that govern Medicare telehealth coverage and payment.
- The bill applies to telehealth services that are already covered under Medicare and allows them to be done through an audio-only communication system.
- The change would begin on the first day of the emergency period referred to in existing law.
Official Summaries
Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of 2025
This bill permanently allows for Medicare coverage of audio-only telehealth services for evaluation and management and behavioral health services.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1899 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1899
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for the
furnishing of audio-only telehealth services.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 6, 2025
Mr. Feenstra (for himself and Mr. Pappas) introduced the following
bill; which was 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow for the
furnishing of audio-only telehealth services.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Audio-Only Telehealth Access Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. ALLOWING FOR THE FURNISHING OF AUDIO-ONLY TELEHEALTH SERVICES.
Section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
1395m(m)(9)) is amended in the first sentence to read as follows: ``The
Secretary shall provide coverage and payment under this part for
telehealth services identified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) as of the date of
the enactment of this paragraph that are furnished via an audio-only
communications system on or after the first day of the emergency period
described in section 1135(g)(1)(B).''.
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