Reed’s bipartisan bill would improve telemedicine access for Medicare recipients

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) has introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide coverage under the Medicare program for certain mental health telehealth services.

The Mental Health Telemedicine Expansion Act, H.R. 6781, introduced on Sept. 12 with U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA), would amend the Social Security Act to increase access to mental health services through remotely connected electronic devices for Medicare beneficiaries, according to a summary of the bill provided by Rep. Reed’s office.

“Just as we see a primary care doctor every year, it is important we have a ‘check-up’ on the mind as well,” Rep. Reed said. “We care about the mental health needs of people and want to ensure they have fair accesses to the care they need in areas where doctors are scarce through the most updated technology available.”

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, which cites suicide as the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, reported that just 41 percent of the nation’s adults who suffer a mental health illness received health services during the past year.

Medicare coverage for access to telemedicine services currently is limited to geographic regions having provider shortages and Medicare beneficiaries may only access such services from a qualified “originating site,” such as a doctor’s office, according to the congressman’s summary. The requirement subsequently prohibits Medicare recipients from using the services from home as intended.

Every year, more than 3.6 million Americans don’t receive mental health services because they lack transportation to their physician’s office, according to Rep. Reed, who noted that H.R. 6781 would allow all Medicare beneficiaries to access mental health services through telemedicine at home.

“Everyone – regardless of where they live – should have access to telemedicine services from the comfort of their home so they can be treated for mental health conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to addiction and suicidal thoughts,” said Rep. DelBene. “This bill is an important step in the right direction for those in need.”

H.R. 6781 has been referred to both the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.