[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7863 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7863

To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance 
on furnishing behavioral health services via telehealth to individuals 
        with limited English proficiency under Medicare program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 2, 2024

    Mrs. Steel (for herself, Mr. Bilirakis, and Ms. Lee of Nevada) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to issue guidance 
on furnishing behavioral health services via telehealth to individuals 
        with limited English proficiency under Medicare program.

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

SECTION 1. GUIDANCE ON FURNISHING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES VIA 
              TELEHEALTH TO INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH 
              PROFICIENCY UNDER MEDICARE PROGRAM.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 
section, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue and 
disseminate, or update and revise as applicable, guidance on the 
following:
            (1) Best practices for providers to work with interpreters 
        to furnish behavioral health services via video-based and 
        audio-only telehealth, when video-based telehealth is not an 
        option.
            (2) Best practices on integrating the use of video 
        platforms that enable multi-person video calls into behavioral 
        health services furnished via telehealth.
            (3) Best practices on teaching patients, especially those 
        with limited English proficiency, to use video-based telehealth 
        platforms.
            (4) Best practices for providing patient materials, 
        communications, and instructions in multiple languages, 
        including text message appointment reminders and prescription 
        information.
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