Skip to main content
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 Health technology, devices, supplies Long-term, rehabilitative, and terminal care Medicare Mental health Minority health Rural conditions and development Telephone and wireless communication

CONNECT for Health Act of 2019

Introduced: December 2, 2019 Introduced by: Schatz, Brian Democratic · Hawaii See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
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 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
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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 October 30, 2019

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Related & companion bills 4
  • HR 5201 Related bill Telemental Health Expansion Act of 2020
  • S 4796 Related bill Fair Care Act of 2020
  • HR 8527 Related bill Fair Care Act of 2020
  • HR 4932 Identical bill CONNECT for Health Act of 2019
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 34
All 34 Democratic 15 Republican 17 Independent 1
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Nov 18, 2020
 R
Ernst, Joni
Iowa · Oct 22, 2020
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · Sep 10, 2020
 D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Jul 30, 2020
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Jun 24, 2020
 D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Jun 24, 2020
 D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Jun 15, 2020
 D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Jan 16, 2020
 R
Scott, Tim
South Carolina · Jan 16, 2020
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Dec 19, 2019
 D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Dec 12, 2019
 R
Rounds, Mike
South Dakota · Dec 12, 2019
 D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Dec 11, 2019
 R
Graham, Lindsey
South Carolina · Dec 9, 2019
 D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Dec 9, 2019
 D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Dec 2, 2019
 R
Cassidy, Bill
Louisiana · Dec 2, 2019
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Dec 2, 2019
 R
Paul, Rand
Kentucky · Dec 2, 2019
 R
Collins, Susan M.
Maine · Nov 21, 2019
 D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Nov 21, 2019
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Nov 14, 2019
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Nov 14, 2019
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Nov 14, 2019
 I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Nov 14, 2019
McSally, Martha
· Nov 14, 2019
 R
Murkowski, Lisa
Alaska · Nov 14, 2019
 D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Nov 14, 2019
 R
Sullivan, Dan
Alaska · Nov 14, 2019
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Nov 14, 2019
 R
Hyde-Smith, Cindy
Mississippi · Oct 30, 2019
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Oct 30, 2019
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Oct 30, 2019
 R
Wicker, Roger F.
Mississippi · Oct 30, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2741: CONNECT for Health Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2741/
MLA
"S. 2741: CONNECT for Health Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2741/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2741, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2741/.
Markdown link
[S. 2741: CONNECT for Health Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-2741/)
Report a problem