Advanced Safe Testing at Residence Telehealth Act of 2023 This bill temporarily establishes several programs to provide telehealth services for at-home testing, evaluations, and other health care. Specifically, the bill establishes a demonstration program to provide assistive telehealth consultations and home- and community-based care for certain Medicare beneficiaries through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Covered services include certain at-home diagnostic tests, telehealth consultations, transportation services, and meal benefits. Beneficiaries must be (1) age 65 or older and eligible to enroll in a qualifying MA plan and to receive certain low-income subsidies under the Medicare prescription drug benefit, or (2) dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits. The bill also establishes a grant program for state Medicaid programs to cover similar at-home tests and related telehealth consultations. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs must establish a pilot program to provide tests and related telehealth consultations free of charge to veterans.
Impact
The implementation of HB 207 is expected to have significant implications for state laws regarding healthcare delivery and insurance coverage. By allowing telehealth consultations and at-home testing through Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, the bill promotes a shift towards more integrated and accessible healthcare services. This could potentially evolve existing state Medicaid programs to accommodate similar telehealth and at-home testing provisions, thus transforming how healthcare services are delivered across the United States.
Summary
House Bill 207, titled the 'Advanced Safe Testing at Residence Telehealth Act of 2023', aims to enhance coverage and payment for specific tests and assistive telehealth consultations under Medicare. The bill introduces a Value-Based Insurance Design Model demonstration program, which will provide eligible Medicare beneficiaries access to telehealth consultations and at-home testing services. The primary goal is to improve healthcare accessibility for older adults and those with disabilities, allowing them to receive medical services without needing to visit healthcare facilities.
Contention
Notably, the bill includes a provision to establish a pilot program for veterans, allowing them to receive tests and telehealth consultations at no cost. However, opposing perspectives may arise around concerns regarding the adequacy of such telehealth services in adequately meeting the diverse healthcare needs of vulnerable populations. Critics may question whether these services would be as effective as traditional in-person consultations, particularly for more complex medical issues. Furthermore, the bill's focus on telehealth might raise issues about equitable access, especially in rural areas where technology infrastructure may be lacking.
Establishes program for certain individuals to become certified homemaker-home health aides and provide services to certain Medicaid and Medicaid-Medicare dually eligible enrollees under increased reimbursement rates.
Establishes program for certain individuals to become certified homemaker-home health aides and provide services to certain Medicaid and Medicaid-Medicare dually eligible enrollees under increased reimbursement rates.
Preventing Medicare Telefraud ActThis bill establishes conditions for payment of certain telehealth services, laboratory tests, and durable medical equipment under Medicare.Specifically, the bill conditions payment for certain high-cost laboratory tests and durable medical equipment that are ordered via telehealth on at least one in-person visit during the preceding six-month period. Additionally, practitioners must submit claims for separately billable telehealth services under the practitioner's unique national provider identification number.
Rural Telehealth Expansion Act This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare to include store-and-forward technologies (in which information is sent to providers and reviewed at a later time, rather than through a real-time interaction). Currently, coverage is limited to federal demonstration programs in Alaska and Hawaii.
This bill permanently allows any site to serve as an originating site (i.e., the location of the beneficiary) for purposes of Medicare telehealth services, including a beneficiary's home.
Medicare Fraud Detection and Deterrence Act of 2025This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to deactivate the standard unique health identifiers of health care providers that are excluded from federal health care programs because of fraud, waste, or abuse.The bill also requires (1) any data submitted by Medicare Advantage plans with respect to durable medical equipment, prosthetics or orthotics, laboratory tests, imaging tests, or home health services to include the standard unique health identifier of the associated provider or supplier; and (2) health care practitioners who are employed by or contract with telehealth companies to use a specialized claims modifier (developed by CMS) for Medicare telehealth services.