S 2741
116th Congress
Senate
Health
Advisory bodies
Congressional oversight
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Health care quality
Health facilities and institutions
Health personnel
Health programs administration and funding
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Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care
Medicare
Mental health
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Telephone and wireless communication
CONNECT for Health Act of 2019
Everywhere this bill has been
2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 30, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Oct 30, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Plain-English summary
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act of 2019 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2019
This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.
Among other things, the bill
- allows the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to waive certain restrictions, such as geographic restrictions, for services provided in high-need health professional shortage areas;
- excludes mental health and emergency medical services, as well as services provided at rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and Indian Health Service facilities, from such geographic restrictions; and
- allows the CMS to generally waive coverage restrictions during national emergencies.
Additionally, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission must report on information relating to the access of Medicare beneficiaries to telehealth services at home. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
What's happening now
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Committees of jurisdiction
1