[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7878 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7878

 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand the ability 
    of renal dialysis facilities to serve as originating sites for 
            telehealth services under the Medicare program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 24, 2022

 Mr. Wenstrup (for himself, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, and 
Ms. Blunt Rochester) 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 expand the ability 
    of renal dialysis facilities to serve as originating sites for 
            telehealth services under the Medicare program.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Kidney Health Connect Act of 2022''.

SEC. 2. EXPANDING THE ABILITY OF RENAL DIALYSIS FACILITIES TO SERVE AS 
              ORIGINATING SITES FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES UNDER THE 
              MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii)(IX) of the Social 
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)(IX)) is amended by striking 
``, but only for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B)''.
    (b) Removal of Geographic Requirements.--Section 1834(m) of the 
Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in the header, by inserting ``and telehealth 
                services furnished at a renal dialysis facility'' after 
                ``visit'';
                    (B) by striking ``subclause (VI), (IX), or (X)'' 
                and inserting ``subclause (VI) or (X)''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``, or with respect to telehealth 
                services furnished for any purpose at an originating 
                site described in subclause (IX) of such paragraph'' 
                before the period at the end; and
            (2) in paragraph (7)(A), by striking ``(other than an 
        originating site described in subclause (IX) of such 
        paragraph)''.
    (c) Prohibition on Facility Fee.--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 header, by striking ``if originating site is the 
        home'' and inserting ``for certain originating sites''; and
            (2) by striking ``described in paragraph (4)(C)(ii)(X)'' 
        and inserting ``described in subclause (IX) or (X) of paragraph 
        (4)(C)(ii)''.
    (d) Face-to-Face Monthly Requirement for Certain Services.--Section 
1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Subject to paragraph 
        (8)'' and inserting ``Subject to paragraphs (5)(B) and (8)''; 
        and
            (2) in paragraph (5), as amended by subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``renal dialysis facility.--The 
                geographic requirements'' and inserting ``renal 
                dialysis facility.--
                    ``(A) Waiver of geographic requirements.--The 
                geographic requirements''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(B) Face-to-face monthly requirement.--Paragraph 
                (1) shall apply to an individual with respect to 
                telehealth services furnished by a physician or 
                practitioner for purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(A)(ii) 
                (not including telehealth services rendered for 
                purposes of section 1881(b)(3)(B)) at an originating 
                site described in subclause (IX) of paragraph 
                (4)(C)(ii) only if the individual had at least one 
                face-to-face visit with a physician during the same 
                calendar month such telehealth services were 
                rendered.''.
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