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Senate Bill 2910
115th Congress(2017-2018)
TeleCAST Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on May 22, 2018
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Introduced in Senate 
May 22, 2018
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Introduced in Senate(May 22, 2018)
May 22, 2018
No Linkage Found
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Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
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S. 2910 (Introduced-in-Senate)


115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2910


To evaluate access to services and treatment for substance use disorders and to telehealth services and remote patient monitoring for pediatric populations under Medicaid.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 22, 2018

Mr. Roberts (for himself, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Warner, Mr. Thune, Mr. Carper, and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

A BILL

To evaluate access to services and treatment for substance use disorders and to telehealth services and remote patient monitoring for pediatric populations under Medicaid.

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 “Telehealth for Children’s Access to Services and Treatment Act” or the “TeleCAST Act ”.

SEC. 2. Definitions.

In this Act:

(1) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—The term “Comptroller General” means the Comptroller General of the United States.

(2) SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER.—The term “school-based health center” has the meaning given that term in section 2110(c)(9) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397jj(c)(9)).

(3) SECRETARY.—The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(4) TELEHEALTH SERVICES.—The term “telehealth services” includes remote patient monitoring and other key modalities such as live video or synchronous telehealth, store-and-forward or asynchronous telehealth, mobile health, telephonic consultation, and electronic consult including provider-to-provider e-consults.

(5) UNDERSERVED AREA.—The term “underserved area” means a health professional shortage area (as defined in section 332(a)(1)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)(A))) and a medically underserved area (according to a designation under section 330(b)(3)(A) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b(b)(3)(A))).

SEC. 3. GAO evaluation of children's access to services and treatment for substance use disorders under Medicaid.

(a) Study.—The Comptroller General shall evaluate children's access to services and treatment for substance use disorders under Medicaid. The evaluation shall include an analysis of State options for improving children's access to such services and treatment and for improving outcomes, including by increasing the number of Medicaid providers who offer services or treatment for substance use disorders in a school-based health center using telehealth services, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The evaluation shall include an analysis of Medicaid provider reimbursement rates for services and treatment for substance use disorders.

(b) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report containing the results of the evaluation conducted under subsection (a), together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative action as the Comptroller General determines appropriate.

SEC. 4. Report on reducing barriers to using telehealth services and remote patient monitoring for pediatric populations under Medicaid.

(a) In general.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, shall issue a report to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representative identifying best practices and potential solutions for reducing barriers to using telehealth services to furnish services and treatment for substance use disorders among pediatric populations under Medicaid. The report shall include—

(1) analyses of the best practices, barriers, and potential solutions for using telehealth services to diagnose and provide services and treatment for children with substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder; and

(2) identification and analysis of the differences, if any, in furnishing services and treatment for children with substance use disorders using telehealth services and using services delivered in person, such as, and to the extent feasible, with respect to—

(A) utilization rates;

(B) costs;

(C) avoidable inpatient admissions and readmissions;

(D) quality of care; and

(E) patient, family, and provider satisfaction.

(b) Publication.—The Secretary shall publish the report required under subsection (a) on a public Internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services.