HR 2639

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 3, 2025

Ms. Leger Fernandez (for herself, Ms. Stansbury, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Obernolte, and Ms. Norton) 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 make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities under the Medicare program for telehealth services furnished by Indian health programs.

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 Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. MAKING PERMANENT CERTAIN TELEHEALTH FLEXIBILITIES UNDER THE MEDICARE PROGRAM FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES FURNISHED BY INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAMS.

Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (4)(C)(iii)—

(A) by striking “In the case” and inserting the following:

“(I) In general.—In the case”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subclause:

“(II) Special rule for services furnished by indian health programs.— With respect to telehealth services identified in subparagraph (F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this clause furnished on or after April 1, 2025, by an Indian health program (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) or by an urban Indian organization (as so defined), or by a physician or practitioner employed by or under contract with such a program or organization, to an eligible telehealth individual, the term ‘originating site’ means any site in the United States at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, including the home of an individual.”; and

(2) in paragraph (9)—

(A) by striking “In the case” and inserting the following:

“(A) In general.—In the case”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(B) Special rule for services furnished by indian health programs.—The Secretary shall provide coverage and payment under this part for telehealth services identified in subparagraph (F)(i) as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph that are furnished on or after April 1, 2025, via an audio-only communications system by an Indian health program (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act) or by an urban Indian organization (as so defined), or by a physician or practitioner employed by or under contract with such a program or organization, to an eligible telehealth individual. For purposes of the previous sentence, the term ‘telehealth service’ means a telehealth service identified as of the date of the enactment of this paragraph by a HCPCS code (and any succeeding codes) for which the Secretary has not applied the requirements of paragraph (1) and the first sentence of section 410.78(a)(3) of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, during the emergency period described in subparagraph (A).”. <all>