To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove geographic requirements and expand originating sites for telehealth services.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Official Summary
Official summary has not been imported yet.
GovScope Watchdog™
AI Government Intelligence™This bill, H.R. 134 from the 118th Congress, proposes to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act by removing geographic restrictions and expanding the list of eligible originating sites for telehealth services under Medicare. The goal is to broaden access to telehealth by allowing more locations to serve as starting points for telehealth visits, potentially increasing healthcare accessibility for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill was referred to the House Subcommittee on Health but ultimately failed or expired without further action. No full text or official summary is available for detailed provisions.
H.R. 134 aimed to expand Medicare telehealth access by eliminating geographic limits and broadening originating sites but did not advance beyond subcommittee referral and expired.
- The bill seeks to amend Medicare telehealth provisions under the Social Security Act.
- It proposes removing geographic requirements that currently limit telehealth originating sites.
- The bill intends to expand the types of locations eligible as originating sites for telehealth services.
['Medicare beneficiaries who use telehealth services', 'Healthcare providers offering telehealth', 'Health facilities that could qualify as new originating sites']
['Implementation challenges in defining and verifying expanded originating sites', 'Potential increased costs to Medicare due to broader telehealth coverage', 'Oversight mechanisms to ensure appropriate use of expanded telehealth services']
The bill was introduced in the House during the 118th Congress and referred to the Subcommittee on Health. It did not progress further and is listed as failed or expired. The policy area is health, specifically Medicare telehealth services, a topic of ongoing legislative interest given the growth of telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hidden impact flags detected: 2
GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.
['Increased telehealth utilization could reduce patient travel and associated costs.', 'Broader telehealth access may encourage healthcare providers to invest more in telehealth infrastructure.', 'Potential shifts in healthcare delivery patterns, with more services offered remotely.']
The absence of a full bill text and official summary limits detailed analysis. Transparency on cost estimates, administrative impact, and oversight provisions would be critical for evaluating the bill's full implications. Monitoring the legislative process for updates or related proposals is recommended.
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