HR 7858 United States House · 118th Congress

TELEMH Act of 2024

The TELEMH Act of 2024 would require Medicare to establish a specific code or modifier for claims related to mental health services provided via telehealth by support staff (such as nurse practitioners or physician assistants) when billed under a physician's supervision. This change would directly affect healthcare providers who deliver telehealth mental health services through auxiliary personnel and submit claims to Medicare. The Secretary of Health and Human Services must create this requirement within two years of the bill becoming law. The bill aims to standardize billing for these services, improving clarity in Medicare claims processing for telehealth mental health care.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics: Mental Health Telehealth Healthcare Workforce

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2024

Committee Review

Sep 2024

House Passage

Sep 2024

Senate Passage

President

Introduced Apr 2, 2024 Last action Sep 18, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in House → Engrossed in House · 4 edits · Sep 17, 2024

MODERATE

The engrossed version significantly broadens the bill's scope from requiring an incident-to modifier only for mental health telehealth services furnished by auxiliary personnel to requiring it for all telehealth services billed incident to a physician or practitioner. The deadline was also changed from a relative two-year period after enactment to a fixed date of January 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded substantially: it now applies to all Medicare telehealth services billed incident to a physician or practitioner, rather than only mental health telehealth services furnished by auxiliary personnel.

SCOPE

The requirement to use an incident-to modifier was expanded from covering only mental health telehealth services to covering all telehealth services under the Medicare telehealth provision.

ELIGIBILITY

The specific reference to auxiliary personnel as defined in 42 CFR 410.26(a)(1) was removed, meaning the modifier requirement is no longer limited to services furnished by auxiliary personnel.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the Secretary to establish the modifier requirements changed from 'not later than 2 years after enactment' to a fixed date of January 1, 2026.

TECHNICAL

The new provision was moved from being added as subparagraph (C) under section 1834(m)(7) (the mental health telehealth subsection) to being added as paragraph (10) under section 1834(m) (the broader telehealth provision).

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Sep 18, 2024

Committee

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

upper

Sep 17, 2024

Introduced

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

lower

Sep 17, 2024

Introduced

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5308)

lower

Sep 17, 2024

Lower · Passed

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5308)

lower

Sep 17, 2024

Introduced

Mrs. Rodgers (WA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

lower

Sep 12, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

lower

Sep 12, 2024

Lower · Passed

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 118-673, Part I.

lower

Jun 12, 2024

Introduced

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 40 - 0.

lower

Jun 12, 2024

Lower · Passed

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

May 16, 2024

Lower · Passed

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 22 - 0.

lower

May 16, 2024

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

lower

Apr 26, 2024

Committee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

lower

Apr 2, 2024

Committee

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.

lower

Apr 2, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in House

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors