EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH STROKE.

SEC. 50325. EXPANDING THE USE OF TELEHEALTH FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH STROKE. Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)), as amended by section 50302(b)(1), is amended— (1) in paragraph (4)(C)(i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking “The term” and inserting “Except as provided in paragraph (6), the term”; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(6) Treatment of stroke telehealth services “(A) Non-application of originating site requirements The requirements described in paragraph (4)(C) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 2019, for purposes of diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of symptoms of an acute stroke, as determined by the Secretary. “(B) Inclusion of certain sites With respect to telehealth services described in subparagraph (A), the term ‘originating site’ shall include any hospital (as defined in section 1861(e)) or critical access hospital (as defined in section 1861(mm)(1)), any mobile stroke unit (as defined by the Secretary), or any other site determined appropriate by the Secretary, at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system. “(C) No originating site facility fee for new sites No facility fee shall be paid under paragraph (2)(B) to an originating site with respect to a telehealth service described in subparagraph (A) if the originating site does not otherwise meet the requirements for an originating site under paragraph (4)(C).” .