Healthcare (Telehealth)

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 20, 2025

S 652: Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act

S 652 requires social media influencers and healthcare providers to avoid false or misleading promotions of FDA-approved drugs on social media, including disclosing key safety information like side effects in a summary format similar to traditional drug ads. It makes these individuals liable for civil penalties if they knowingly or recklessly omit critical facts or fail to include required safety summaries. The bill also directs the FDA to issue new guidance on enforcement, monitor drug ads using AI, and conduct market surveillance on social media platforms. This affects influencers, healthcare providers, and drug manufacturers who pay for such promotions, with the FDA authorized to spend $15 million annually for enforcement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires disclosure of drug safety info in ads to prevent patient deception, aligning with patient protection in healthcare.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House May 8, 2025

HR 3288: Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2025

Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2025 This bill provides for Medicare and Medicaid coverage of prescription digital therapeutics (i.e., software applications that are used to prevent, manage, or treat medical conditions). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services must establish a Medicare payment methodology for payments to manufacturers that takes into account certain factors (e.g., ongoing use); manufacturers must report specified information about private payors, subject to civil penalties.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates Medicare/Medicaid coverage for digital therapeutics, expanding health service access and aligning with 'improves patient access' support indicator.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates Medicare/Medicaid coverage for digital therapeutics software, advancing adoption of technology-based medical treatments through payment methodology.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House Mar 31, 2025

HR 2509: COMPLETE Care Act

HR 2509, the COMPLETE Care Act, creates Medicare payment incentives for primary care providers who integrate specific behavioral health services into their practice. It directly affects Medicare providers offering services identified by HCPCS codes 99484, 99492, 99493, 99494, G2214, and G0323 (covering models like Collaborative Care and Primary Care Behavioral Health) during 2027-2029. The bill increases Medicare payments for these services to 125-175% of standard rates (phasing down from 175% in 2027 to 125% in 2029) and waives budget neutrality rules to fund these higher payments. Additionally, it requires the HHS Secretary to provide technical assistance to primary care practices adopting these models by 2026, with dedicated funding for 2025-2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases Medicare payments (125-175%) for behavioral health integration, directly funding essential healthcare services through federal spending.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicare payments (125-175%) for primary care integrating behavioral health services, expanding access to mental health care through funding incentives.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Primary Care Telehealth

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passed · United States · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 3436: Caring for Veterans and Strengthening National Security Act

This bill requires the VA to provide telehealth services, mail-order pharmacy benefits, and mandatory beneficiary travel payments to veterans residing in the Freely Associated States (including Palau, the Marshall Islands, and Micronesia) within one year of enactment. It mandates quarterly reporting to Congress on implementation progress and associated costs. The law directly affects veterans in these Pacific Island nations by expanding access to critical healthcare and travel support services previously not uniformly guaranteed.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands telehealth, pharmacy benefits, and travel support for veterans' healthcare access in Freely Associated States, directly improving patient access and coverage.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands VA telehealth, pharmacy, and travel benefits for veterans in Freely Associated States, directly enhancing healthcare access and support services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Telehealth Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare Veteran Mental Health

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in committee · United States · House Jun 26, 2025

HR 4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 expands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions that limited where patients could receive care, expanding the types of health care providers who can offer telehealth services, and eliminating the requirement for an in-person visit before receiving telemental health services. The bill includes specific provisions to support telehealth use for Native American health facilities, rural health clinics, and Federally Qualified Health Centers. It requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to collect and publish data on telehealth usage and impacts, and to develop resources to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Program integrity measures are added to monitor telehealth billing practices and prevent fraud while maintaining coverage for telehealth services during public health emergencies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare telehealth coverage by removing geographic restrictions, allowing more providers, and eliminating pre-visit requirements for telemental health, improving access for rural and underserved communities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands telehealth access by removing geographic restrictions and supporting rural/underserved areas, advancing technology-enabled healthcare delivery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare Telehealth

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 4, 2025

S 2709: Telehealth Modernization Act

The Telehealth Modernization Act extends Medicare telehealth flexibilities through 2027, allowing more patients to access care remotely without geographic restrictions. It expands who can provide telehealth services (including audio-only visits), extends telehealth use for hospice recertification, and updates coverage for in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The bill also extends "acute hospital care at home" program flexibilities through 2030 and requires a study on this program's effectiveness. Additionally, it includes provisions to improve telehealth access for patients with limited English proficiency and enhances Medicare coverage for virtual diabetes prevention programs. These changes primarily affect Medicare beneficiaries, healthcare providers, and telehealth service companies.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends Medicare telehealth flexibilities, removes geographic restrictions, expands provider eligibility (including audio-only), and updates coverage for in-home care - directly improving patient access and expanding health services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyExpands telehealth services using technology, enabling remote care access without geographic restrictions, advancing tech application in healthcare delivery.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare Telehealth

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 24, 2025

S 2150: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025

The Women’s Health Protection Act of 2025 (S 2150) prohibits state laws that impose unnecessary restrictions on abortion access before fetal viability. It directly affects patients seeking abortion care and health care providers (including clinics, hospitals, and medical professionals), banning requirements like mandatory in-person visits, location-based travel barriers, or restrictions on telemedicine that don’t apply to comparable medical procedures. The bill overrides conflicting state laws, requires courts to consider factors like cost and travel burden when evaluating restrictions, and establishes federal enforcement through lawsuits to stop violations. It focuses on ensuring access to abortion services without burdens that hinder care, while allowing post-viability abortions only when necessary to protect a patient’s life or health.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits state restrictions on abortion access, protecting patient rights and expanding healthcare access for reproductive services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth Women's Health

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in committee · United States · Senate May 12, 2025

S 1717: Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2025

S 1717, the Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act of 2025, requires Medicare to cover FDA-designated "breakthrough" medical devices during a 4-year transitional period starting when the device is approved. This directly affects Medicare beneficiaries (Part A/B enrollees) and device manufacturers, ensuring coverage for these innovative products while FDA reviews their safety. The bill mandates that Medicare’s coverage decisions for these devices must be finalized within 9-12 months before the 4-year period ends, and allows coverage denial only if clinical data shows the device poses undue risk. It also allocates $10 million annually (2026-2031) to fund Medicare’s implementation of these coverage rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicare coverage for FDA-designated breakthrough devices, expanding patient access to innovative medical products during transitional period.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicare Telehealth

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in committee · United States · House Mar 20, 2026

HR 7514: Rural Health Care Facilities Revitalization Act

This bill creates new funding opportunities for rural health facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and long-term care centers) in areas with populations under 50,000. It allows these facilities to use existing Rural Development Agency funds to refinance debt, update telehealth/equipment, or cover operating costs - provided the assistance preserves health access and improves the facility’s financial health. Eligibility requires the facility to be in a rural area or a persistent poverty area (defined as a 20%+ poverty rate for 30 years), and the Secretary may waive certain requirements for insolvent facilities in distressed communities. The law amends existing farm and rural development programs to directly support rural health infrastructure without creating new funding streams.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides new funding for rural health facilities to improve access, update telehealth, and cover operating costs, directly advancing healthcare access and facility sustainability.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds telehealth equipment updates for rural facilities, advancing technology access in underserved areas.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Long-Term Care Telehealth Tags Rural Communities

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in committee · United States · Senate Sep 17, 2025

S 2830: WELL Seniors Act of 2025

The WELL Seniors Act of 2025 expands Medicare's annual wellness visit program to better address seniors' health and social needs. It requires screenings for fall risk and assessments of food security, housing, transportation, and social support, with providers receiving a 10% payment incentive for including at least two additional elements beyond standard care. The bill also allows these visits to be provided via telehealth and adds physical therapists, occupational therapists, and pharmacists as eligible providers starting in 2026. Additionally, it mandates a national education campaign and research study to improve uptake, particularly for low-income and rural seniors.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicare wellness visits with social need screenings and provider incentives, improving senior healthcare access and comprehensive care services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicare Telehealth Tags Seniors

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