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H.R. 5473 116th Congress House

EASE Behavioral Health Services Act

Official title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act to provide for Medicare and Medicaid mental and behavioral health treatment through telehealth.

Introduced: December 18, 2019 Introduced by: Gus M. Bilirakis Republican · Florida See on congress.gov
Health Congressional oversightHealth care coverage and accessHealth technology, devices, suppliesInternet, web applications, social media
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MedicaidMedicareMental health
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 19, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Dec 18, 2019
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.
Dec 18, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 19, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Enhance Access to Support Essential Behavioral Health Services Act or the EASE Behavioral Health Services Act

This bill removes restrictions that require the originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) to be in a rural area, and allows the home of a beneficiary to serve as the originating site, for behavioral health telehealth services under Medicare. The bill also expands the scope of required guidance, studies, and reports to address the provision of such services under Medicaid.
 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 2 Republican 1
R
Steube, W. Gregory
Florida · May 22, 2020
 D
Blunt Rochester, Lisa
Delaware · Dec 19, 2019
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Dec 18, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 5473: EASE Behavioral Health Services Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5473/
MLA
"H.R. 5473: EASE Behavioral Health Services Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5473/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5473, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5473/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 5473: EASE Behavioral Health Services Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-5473/)
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