H.R. 2639

119 HR 2639 IH: Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2025
 U.S. House of Representatives
 2025-04-03
 text/xml
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 I  119th CONGRESS  1st Session  H. R. 2639  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   April 3, 2025   Ms. Leger Fernandez  (for herself,  Ms. Stansbury ,  Mr. Ruiz ,  Mr. Obernolte , and  Ms. Norton ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the  Committee on Energy and Commerce , and in addition to the Committee on  Ways and Means , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned   A BILL
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program for telehealth services furnished by Indian health programs.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2025  .
2.
Making permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program for telehealth services furnished by Indian health programs
Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395m(m) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4)(C)(iii)—
(A)
by striking  In the case  and inserting the following:
(I)
In general
In the case
  ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
(II)
Special rule for services furnished by Indian health programs
With respect to telehealth services identified in subparagraph (F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this clause furnished on or after April 1, 2025, by an Indian health program (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) or by an urban Indian organization (as so defined), or by a physician or practitioner employed by or under contract with such a program or organization, to an eligible telehealth individual, the term  originating site  means any site in the United States at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, including the home of an individual.
  ; and
(2)
in paragraph (9)—
(A)
by striking  In the case  and inserting the following:
(A)
In general
In the case
 ; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B)
Special rule for services furnished by Indian health programs
The Secretary shall provide coverage and payment under this part for telehealth services identified in subparagraph (F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph that are furnished on or after April 1, 2025, via an audio-only communications system by an Indian health program (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) or by an urban Indian organization (as so defined), or by a physician or practitioner employed by or under contract with such a program or organization, to an eligible telehealth individual. For purposes of the previous sentence, the term  telehealth service  means a telehealth service identified as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph by a HCPCS code (and any succeeding codes) for which the Secretary has not applied the requirements of paragraph (1) and the first sentence of section 410.78(a)(3) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, during the emergency period described in subparagraph (A).
 .