S. 1465 — Introduced in Senate

II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1465 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 22, 2015 Mr. Kirk introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to stroke telehealth services under the Medicare program. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine Act or the FAST Act. 2. Expanding access to stroke telehealth services under the Medicare program (a) In general Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C) is amended— (1) in clause (i), by striking The term and inserting Subject to clause (iii), the term; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: (iii) Stroke telehealth services With respect to services related to the evaluation or treatment of an acute stroke that are provided within the evidence-based window of treatment, the term originating site means any site at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, regardless of where the site is located. . (b) No originating site facility fee for new sites Section 1834(m)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(2)(B)) is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting (other than an originating site that is only described in clause (iii) of paragraph (4)(C), and does not meet the requirement for an originating site under clause (i) of such paragraph) after the originating site. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.