Modernized Medicine Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6538 To provide for a temporary increase in Federal financial participation under the Medicaid program for telehealth services, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 17, 2020 Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. UPTON, and Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER) intro- duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide for a temporary increase in Federal financial participation under the Medicaid program for telehealth services, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Modernized Medicine 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Apr 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6538.IH H6538 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6538 IH SEC. 2. TEMPORARY INCREASE IN MEDICAID FEDERAL FI- 1 NANCIAL PARTICIPATION FOR TELEHEALTH 2 SERVICES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), for each 4 calendar quarter occurring during the period beginning on 5 the first day of the emergency period defined in paragraph 6 (1)(B) of section 1135(g) of the Social Security Act (42 7 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)) and ending on the last day of the cal- 8 endar quarter in which the last day of such emergency 9 period occurs, in the case of a State that has expenditures 10 for telehealth services furnished during such quarter for 11 which payment may be made to the State under section 12 1903(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396b(a)), 13 the percentage of Federal financial participation otherwise 14 required to be paid to such State under such section for 15 such amounts expended shall be increased by one percent- 16 age point. 17 (b) REQUIREMENTS.—A State described in sub- 18 section (a) may not receive the percentage increase in Fed- 19 eral financial participation described in such subsection 20 with respect to a calendar quarter unless the State pro- 21 vides for telehealth services under the State plan approved 22 under such title XIX (or a waiver of such plan) during 23 such quarter in the same manner and to the same extent 24 that telehealth services are covered under section 1834(m) 25 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)), includ- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Apr 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6538.IH H6538 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6538 IH ing pursuant to any waiver under section 1135 of such 1 Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5). Nothing in the preceding sen- 2 tence shall be construed as requiring a State to pay for 3 telehealth services furnished to an individual eligible under 4 the State plan (or waiver) at a rate that would exceed the 5 payment amount that otherwise would be made under the 6 State plan (or waiver) for such services. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:39 Apr 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6538.IH H6538 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS