Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021 or the CONNECT for Health Act of 2021
This bill expands coverage of telehealth services under Medicare.
Among other provisions, the bill
Additionally, the CMS must report on the effects of expanded telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including with respect to the utilization, quality, and outcomes of services. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation may also test alternative payment models relating to expanded telehealth services.
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to 
              telehealth services, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Creating 
Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies 
(CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021'' or the ``CONNECT for Health Act of 
2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings and sense of Congress.
           TITLE I--REMOVING BARRIERS TO TELEHEALTH COVERAGE

Sec. 101. Expanding the use of telehealth through the waiver of 
                            requirements.
Sec. 102. Removing geographic requirements for telehealth services.
Sec. 103. Expanding originating sites.
Sec. 104. Use of telehealth in emergency medical care.
Sec. 105. Improvements to the process for adding telehealth services.
Sec. 106. Federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
Sec. 107. Native American health facilities.
Sec. 108. Waiver of telehealth requirements during public health 
                            emergencies.
Sec. 109. Use of telehealth in recertification for hospice care.
                      TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY

Sec. 201. Clarification for fraud and abuse laws regarding technologies 
                            provided to beneficiaries.
Sec. 202. Additional resources for telehealth oversight.
Sec. 203. Provider and beneficiary education on telehealth.
                 TITLE III--DATA AND TESTING OF MODELS

Sec. 301. Study on telehealth utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sec. 302. Analysis of telehealth waivers in alternative payment models.
Sec. 303. Model to allow additional health professionals to furnish 
                            telehealth services.
Sec. 304. Testing of models to examine the use of telehealth under the 
                            Medicare program.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The use of technology in health care and coverage of 
        telehealth services are rapidly evolving.
            (2) Research has found that telehealth services can expand 
        access to care, improve the quality of care, and reduce 
        spending, and that patients receiving telehealth services are 
        satisfied with their experiences.
            (3) Health care workforce shortages are a significant 
        problem in many areas and for many types of health care 
        clinicians.
            (4) Telehealth increases access to care in areas with 
        workforce shortages and for individuals who live far away from 
        health care facilities, have limited mobility or 
        transportation, or have other barriers to accessing care.
            (5) The use of health technologies can strengthen the 
        expertise of the health care workforce, including by connecting 
        clinicians to specialty consultations.
            (6) Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of 
        telehealth services in the Medicare program under title XVIII 
        of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) was low, 
        with only 0.25 percent of Medicare fee-for-service 
        beneficiaries utilizing telehealth services in 2016.
            (7) The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated additional benefits 
        of telehealth, including reducing infection risk of patients 
        and health care professionals and conserving space in health 
        care facilities, and the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention recommended that telehealth services should be 
        optimized, when available and appropriate, during the pandemic.
            (8) Long-term certainty about coverage of telehealth 
        services under the Medicare program is necessary to fully 
        realize the benefits of telehealth.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) health care providers can furnish safe, effective, and 
        high-quality health care services through telehealth;
            (2) the Secretary of Health and Human Services should 
        promptly take all necessary measures to ensure that providers 
        and beneficiaries can continue to furnish and utilize, 
        respectively, telehealth services in the Medicare program 
        during and after the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, 
        including modifying, as appropriate, the definition of 
        ``interactive telecommunications system'' in regulations and 
        program instruction under the Medicare program to ensure that 
        providers can utilize all appropriate means and types of 
        technology, including audio-visual, audio-only, and other types 
        of technologies, to furnish telehealth services; and
            (3) barriers to the use of telehealth should be removed.

           TITLE I--REMOVING BARRIERS TO TELEHEALTH COVERAGE

SEC. 101. EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH THROUGH THE WAIVER OF 
              REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), by striking ``and (7)'' and 
        inserting ``(7), and (9)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(9) Authority to waive requirements and limitations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Notwithstanding the preceding 
                provisions of this subsection, in the case of 
                telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 
                2022, the Secretary may waive any requirement described 
                in subparagraph (B) that is applicable to payment for 
                telehealth services under this subsection, but only if 
                the Secretary determines that such waiver would not 
                adversely impact quality of care.
                    ``(B) Requirements described.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, requirements applicable to payment for 
                telehealth services under this subsection are--
                            ``(i) requirements relating to 
                        qualifications for an originating site under 
                        paragraph (4)(C)(ii);
                            ``(ii) any geographic requirement under 
                        paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other than applicable 
                        State law requirements, including State 
                        licensure requirements);
                            ``(iii) any limitation on the type of 
                        technology used to furnish telehealth services;
                            ``(iv) any limitation on the types of 
                        practitioners who are eligible to furnish 
                        telehealth services (other than the requirement 
                        that the practitioner is enrolled under this 
                        title);
                            ``(v) any limitation on specific services 
                        designated as telehealth services pursuant to 
                        this subsection (provided the Secretary 
                        determines that such services are clinically 
                        appropriate to furnish remotely); or
                            ``(vi) any other limitation relating to the 
                        furnishing of telehealth services under this 
                        title identified by the Secretary.
                    ``(C) Waiver implementation.--In implementing a 
                waiver under this paragraph, the Secretary may 
                establish parameters, as appropriate, for telehealth 
                services under such waiver, including with respect to 
                payment of a facility fee for originating sites and 
                beneficiary and program integrity protections.
                    ``(D) Public comment.--The Secretary shall 
                establish a process by which stakeholders may (on at 
                least an annual basis) provide public comment on 
                waivers under this paragraph.
                    ``(E) Periodic review of waivers.--The Secretary 
                shall periodically, but not more often than every 3 
                years, reassess each waiver under this paragraph to 
                determine whether the waiver continues to meet the 
                quality of care condition applicable under subparagraph 
                (A). The Secretary shall terminate any waiver that does 
                not continue to meet such condition.''.
    (b) Posting of Information.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which a waiver under section 1834(m)(9) of the Social Security Act, 
as added by subsection (a), first becomes effective, and at least every 
2 years thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
post on the internet website of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services--
            (1) the number of Medicare beneficiaries receiving 
        telehealth services by reason of each waiver under such 
        section;
            (2) the impact of such waivers on expenditures and 
        utilization under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1395 et seq.); and
            (3) other outcomes, as determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.

SEC. 102. REMOVING GEOGRAPHIC REQUIREMENTS FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

    Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by section 101, is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), 
        by inserting ``and clause (iii)'' after ``and (9)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(iii) Removal of geographic 
                        requirements.--The geographic requirements 
                        described in clause (i) shall not apply with 
                        respect to telehealth services furnished on or 
                        after the date of the enactment of this 
                        clause.''.

SEC. 103. EXPANDING ORIGINATING SITES.

    (a) Expanding the Home as an Originating Site.--Section 
1834(m)(4)(C)(ii)(X) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)(X)) is amended to read as follows:
                                    ``(X)(aa) Prior to the date of 
                                enactment of the CONNECT for Health Act 
                                of 2021, the home of an individual but 
                                only for purposes of section 
                                1881(b)(3)(B) or telehealth services 
                                described in paragraph (7).
                                    ``(bb) On or after such date of 
                                enactment, the home of an 
                                individual.''.
    (b) Allowing Additional Originating Sites.--Section 
1834(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subclause:
                                    ``(XII) Any other site determined 
                                appropriate by the Secretary at which 
                                an eligible telehealth individual is 
                                located at the time a telehealth 
                                service is furnished via a 
                                telecommunications system.''.
    (c) Parameters for New Originating Sites.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of 
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by 
section 102, is amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(iv) Requirements for new sites.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--The Secretary 
                                may establish requirements for the 
                                furnishing of telehealth services at 
                                sites described in clause (ii)(XII) to 
                                provide for beneficiary and program 
                                integrity protections.
                                    ``(II) Clarification.--Nothing in 
                                this clause shall be construed to 
                                preclude the Secretary from 
                                establishing requirements for other 
                                originating sites described in clause 
                                (ii)''.
    (d) No Originating Site Facility Fee for New Sites.--Section 
1834(m)(2)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1395m(m)(2)(B)(ii)) is amended--
            (1) in the heading, by striking ``if originating site is 
        the home'' and inserting ``for certain sites''; and
            (2) by striking ``paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X)'' and inserting 
        ``subclause (X) or (XII) of paragraph (4)(C)''.

SEC. 104. USE OF TELEHEALTH IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)), as amended by sections 101 and 102, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), by striking ``and (9)'' and 
        inserting ``(9), and (10)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) Treatment of emergency medical care furnished 
        through telehealth.--The geographic requirements described in 
        paragraph (4)(C)(i) (other than applicable State law 
        requirements, including State licensure requirements) shall not 
        apply with respect to telehealth services that are services for 
        emergency medical care (as determined by the Secretary) 
        furnished on or after January 1, 2022, to an eligible 
        telehealth individual.''.
    (b) Additional Services.--As part of the implementation of the 
amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services shall consider whether additional services should be added to 
the services specified in paragraph (4)(F)(i) of section 1834(m) of 
such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m)) for authorized payment under paragraph (1) 
of such section.

SEC. 105. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PROCESS FOR ADDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

    (a) Review.--The Secretary shall undertake a review of the process 
established pursuant to section 1834(m)(4)(F)(ii) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)(ii)), and based on the results 
of such review--
            (1) implement revisions to the process so that the criteria 
        to add services prioritizes, as appropriate, improved access to 
        care through clinically appropriate telehealth services; and
            (2) provide clarification on what requests to add 
        telehealth services under such process should include.
    (b) Temporary Coverage of Certain Telehealth Services.--Section 
1834(m)(4)(F) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(iii) Temporary coverage of certain 
                        telehealth services.--The Secretary may add 
                        services with a reasonable potential likelihood 
                        of clinical benefit and improved access to care 
                        when furnished via a telecommunications system 
                        (as determined by the Secretary) on a temporary 
                        basis to those specified in clause (i) for 
                        authorized payment under paragraph (1).''.

SEC. 106. FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS AND RURAL HEALTH CLINICS.

    Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)), as 
amended by sections 101, 102, and 104, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), in the matter preceding 
        subclause (I), by inserting ``, (8)'' after ``(7)''; and
            (2) in paragraph (8)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading by inserting ``and 
                after'' after ``during '';
                    (B) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
                        inserting ``and after such emergency period'' 
                        after ``1135(g)(1)(B)'';
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``and'' at 
                        the end;
                            (iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as 
                        clause (iv); and
                            (iv) by inserting after clause (ii) the 
                        following new clause:
                            ``(iii) the geographic requirements 
                        described in paragraph (4)(C)(i) shall not 
                        apply with respect to such a telehealth 
                        service; and'';
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(B) Payment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A telehealth service 
                        furnished by a Federally qualified health 
                        center or a rural health clinic to an 
                        individual pursuant to this paragraph on or 
                        after the date of the enactment of this 
                        subparagraph shall be deemed to be so furnished 
                        to such individual as an outpatient of such 
                        clinic or facility (as applicable) for purposes 
                        of paragraph (1) or (3), respectively, of 
                        section 1861(aa) and payable as a Federally 
                        qualified health center service or rural health 
                        clinic service (as applicable) under the 
                        prospective payment system established under 
                        section 1834(o) or under section 1833(a)(3), 
                        respectively.
                            ``(ii) Treatment of costs for fqhc pps 
                        calculations and rhc air calculations.--Costs 
                        associated with the delivery of telehealth 
                        services by a Federally qualified health center 
                        or rural health clinic serving as a distant 
                        site pursuant to this paragraph shall be 
                        considered allowable costs for purposes of the 
                        prospective payment system established under 
                        section 1834(o) and any payment methodologies 
                        developed under section 1833(a)(3), as 
                        applicable.''.

SEC. 107. NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH FACILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)), as amended by sections 101, 102, and 103, 
is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``clause (iii)'' and 
        inserting ``clauses (iii) and (v)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
                            ``(v) Native american health facilities.--
                        With respect to telehealth services furnished 
                        on or after January 1, 2022, the originating 
                        site requirements described in clauses (i) and 
                        (ii) shall not apply with respect to a facility 
                        of the Indian Health Service, whether operated 
                        by such Service, or by an Indian tribe (as that 
                        term is defined in section 4 of the Indian 
                        Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)) 
                        or a tribal organization (as that term is 
                        defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-
                        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 
                        U.S.C. 5304)), or a facility of the Native 
                        Hawaiian health care systems authorized under 
                        the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act 
                        (42 U.S.C. 11701 et seq.).''.
    (b) No Originating Site Facility Fee for Certain Native American 
Facilities.--Section 1834(m)(2)(B)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B)(i)) is amended, in the matter preceding subclause 
(I), by inserting ``(other than an originating site that is only 
described in clause (v) of paragraph (4)(C), and does not meet the 
requirement for an originating site under clauses (i) and (ii) of such 
paragraph)'' after ``the originating site''.

SEC. 108. WAIVER OF TELEHEALTH REQUIREMENTS DURING PUBLIC HEALTH 
              EMERGENCIES.

    Section 1135(g)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-
5(g)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), in the matter preceding clause 
        (i), by striking ``subparagraph (B)'' and inserting 
        ``subparagraphs (B) and (C)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) Exception for waiver of telehealth 
                requirements during public health emergencies.--For 
                purposes of subsection (b)(8), in addition to the 
                emergency period described in subparagraph (B), an 
                `emergency area' is a geographical area in which, and 
                an `emergency period' is the period during which, there 
                exists a public health emergency declared by the 
                Secretary pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
                Service Act.''.

SEC. 109. USE OF TELEHEALTH IN RECERTIFICATION FOR HOSPICE CARE.

    (a) In General.--Section 1814(a)(7)(D)(i)(II) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395f(a)(7)(D)(i)(II)) is amended by inserting 
``and after such emergency period'' after ``1135(g)(1)(B)''.
    (b) GAO Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit 
a report to Congress evaluating the impact of the amendment made by 
subsection (a) on--
            (1) the number and percentage of beneficiaries recertified 
        for the Medicare hospice benefit at 180 days and for subsequent 
        benefit periods;
            (2) the appropriateness for hospice care of the patients 
        recertified through the use of telehealth; and
            (3) any other factors determined appropriate by the 
        Comptroller General.

                      TITLE II--PROGRAM INTEGRITY

SEC. 201. CLARIFICATION FOR FRAUD AND ABUSE LAWS REGARDING TECHNOLOGIES 
              PROVIDED TO BENEFICIARIES.

    Section 1128A(i)(6) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320a-
7a(i)(6)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``; or'' and inserting 
        a semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
                    ``(K) the provision of technologies (as defined by 
                the Secretary) on or after the date of the enactment of 
                this subparagraph, by a provider of services or 
                supplier (as such terms are defined for purposes of 
                title XVIII) directly to an individual who is entitled 
                to benefits under part A of title XVIII, enrolled under 
                part B of such title, or both, for the purpose of 
                furnishing telehealth services, remote patient 
                monitoring services, or other services furnished 
                through the use of technology (as defined by the 
                Secretary), if--
                            ``(i) the technologies are not offered as 
                        part of any advertisement or solicitation; and
                            ``(ii) the provision of the technologies 
                        meets any other requirements set forth in 
                        regulations promulgated by the Secretary.''.

SEC. 202. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR TELEHEALTH OVERSIGHT.

    In addition to amounts otherwise available, there are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Inspector General of the Department of Health 
and Human Services for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, out of 
any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $3,000,000, to 
remain available until expended, for purposes of conducting audits, 
investigations, and other oversight and enforcement activities with 
respect to telehealth services, remote patient monitoring services, or 
other services furnished through the use of technology (as defined by 
the Secretary).

SEC. 203. PROVIDER AND BENEFICIARY EDUCATION ON TELEHEALTH.

    (a) Educational Resources and Training Sessions.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services shall develop and make available to beneficiaries and 
        health care professionals educational resources and training 
        sessions on requirements relating to the furnishing of 
        telehealth services under section 1834(m) of the Social 
        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) and topics including--
                    (A) requirements for payment for telehealth 
                services;
                    (B) telehealth-specific health care privacy and 
                security training;
                    (C) utilizing telehealth services to engage and 
                support underserved, high-risk, and vulnerable patient 
                populations; and
                    (D) other topics as determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            (2) Accounting for age and other differences.--Such 
        resources and training sessions must account for age and 
        sociodemographic, geographic, cultural, cognitive, and 
        linguistic differences in how individuals interact with 
        technology.
    (b) Quality Improvement Organizations.--The Secretary shall 
consider including technical assistance, education, and training on 
telehealth services as a required activity of the quality improvement 
organizations described in section 1862(g) of the Social Security Act.
    (c) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
necessary to carry out the activities described in sections (a) and 
(b).

                 TITLE III--DATA AND TESTING OF MODELS

SEC. 301. STUDY ON TELEHEALTH UTILIZATION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall collect and analyze 
qualitative and quantitative data on the impact of telehealth services, 
virtual check-ins, remote patient monitoring services, and other 
services furnished through the use of technology permitted by the 
waiver or modification of certain requirements under title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act (42 15 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.) and, as feasible, under 
title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), and any regulations 
thereunder during the COVID-19 public health emergency, which may 
include the collection of data regarding--
            (1) health care utilization rates under such title XVIII 
        and, as feasible, under such title XIX, including utilization--
                    (A) in different types of areas;
                    (B) by race, ethnicity, or income levels; and
                    (C) of telehealth services furnished by different 
                types of health care professionals;
            (2) health care quality, such as measured by hospital 
        readmission rates, missed appointment rates, patient and 
        provider satisfaction, or other appropriate measures;
            (3) health outcomes of individuals utilizing telehealth 
        services;
            (4) audio-only telehealth utilization rates when video-
        based telehealth was not an option, including the types of 
        services and the types of providers treating individuals using 
        audio-only telehealth;
            (5) waivers of State licensure requirements;
            (6) the types of technologies utilized to deliver or 
        receive telehealth care and utilization rates, disaggregated by 
        type of technology (as applicable);
            (7) challenges for providers in furnishing telehealth 
        services;
            (8) the investments necessary for providers to effectively 
        provide telehealth services to their patients, including the 
        costs of necessary technology and of training staff; and
            (9) any additional information determined appropriate by 
        the Secretary.
    (b) Interim Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives an 
interim report on the impact of telehealth based on the data collected 
and analyzed under subsection (a). For the purposes of the interim 
report, the Secretary may determine which data collected and analyzed 
under such subsection is most appropriate to complete such report.
    (c) Final Report to Congress.--Not later than one year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Finance and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a 
final report on the impact of telehealth based on the data collected 
and analyzed under subsection (a) that includes--
            (1) conclusions regarding the impact of telehealth services 
        on health care delivery during the COVID-19 public health 
        emergency; and
            (2) an estimation of total spending on telehealth services 
        under title XVIII of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395 et 
        seq.) and, as feasible, under title XIX of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1396 et seq.).
    (d) Stakeholder Input.--For purposes of subsections (a), (b), and 
(c), the Secretary shall seek input from the Medicare Payment Advisory 
Commission, the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, and 
nongovernmental stakeholders, including patient organizations, 
providers, and experts in telehealth.
    (e) Funding.--There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 302. ANALYSIS OF TELEHEALTH WAIVERS IN ALTERNATIVE PAYMENT MODELS.

    The second sentence of section 1115A(g) of the Social Security Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1315a(g)) is amended by inserting ``an analysis of waivers 
(if applicable) under subsection (d)(1) related to telehealth and the 
impact on quality and spending under the applicable titles of such 
waivers,'' after ``subsection (c),''.

SEC. 303. MODEL TO ALLOW ADDITIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO FURNISH 
              TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

    Section 1115A(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1315a(b)(2)(B)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
clause:
                            ``(xxviii) Allowing health professionals, 
                        such as those described in section 
                        1819(b)(5)(G) or section 1861(ll)(4)(B), who 
                        are enrolled under section 1866(j) and not 
                        otherwise eligible under section 1834(m) to 
                        furnish telehealth services to furnish such 
                        services.''.

SEC. 304. TESTING OF MODELS TO EXAMINE THE USE OF TELEHEALTH UNDER THE 
              MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    Section 1115A(b)(2) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
1315a(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Testing models to examine use of telehealth 
                under medicare.--The Secretary shall consider testing 
                under this subsection models to examine the use of 
                telehealth under title XVIII.''.
                                 <all>
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services, and for other purposes.
CONNECT for Health Act of 2021
Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021
Rep. Thompson, Mike