,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ffdd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,april #bh1 #bjbj,ms4 ,schrier 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,david ,p4 ,roe of ,tennessee1 ,mr4 ,morelle1 and ,mr4 ,van ,drew7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,ways and ,means1 and ,education and ,labor1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to require group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for services furnished via telehealth if such services would be covered if furnished in-person during the ,,covid-#ai emergency4 #a4 ,requiring group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage to provide coverage for services furnished via telehealth if such services would be covered if furnished in-person during the ,,covid-#ai emergency 7a7 ,in general ,during any portion of the emergency period described in section #aace7;g77#a77;,b7 of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #acbj;b-#e7;g77#a77;,b771 notwithstanding sections #bgjc and #bgae7;d77#d7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#b1 #cjj;gg-#ae7;d77#d771 a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage1 including a grandfathered health plan 7as defined in section #abea7;e7 of the ,patient ,protection and ,affordable ,care ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahjaa7;e777-- 7#a7 shall-- 7,a7 provide benefits under such plan or such coverage for any eligible service 7as defined in subsection 7c771 including a mental health and substance use disorder service1 furnished via a qualifying telecommunications system 7as defined in subsection 7c77 by a health care provider to an individual who is a participant1 beneficiary1 or enrollee under such plan or such coverage1 notwithstanding that such provider furnishing such service is not at the same location as the individual2 7,b7 so provide such benefits for such service under the same terms and with application of the same cost-sharing requirements 7including a deductible1 copayment1 or coinsurance7 as would apply if such service were furnished by such provider to such individual in-person2 7,c7 reimburse such provider for such service in an amount equal to the amount of reimbursement for such service had such service been furnished by such provider to such individual in-person2 7,d7 not impose any requirement under such plan or coverage that such provider have a prior relationship with such individual2 and 7,e7 not restrict the ability of any health care provider with a contractual relationship for furnishing an eligible service under such plan or coverage from furnishing such service via a qualifying telecommunications system1 and shall not establish incentives or penalties under such plan or coverage for receiving such an eligible service from such a provider via such a system2 and 7#b7 may waive any cost-sharing requirement 7including application of a deductible1 copayment1 or coinsurance7 for an item or service furnished for purposes of diagnosing or treating ,,covid-#ai1 including any such service that is an eligible service furnished via a qualifying telecommunications system4 7b7 ,application ,the provisions of this section shall be applied by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 ,secretary of ,labor1 and ,secretary of the ,treasury to group health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or individual health insurance coverage as if included in the provisions of part ,a of title ,,xxvii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act1 part #g of the ,employee ,retirement ,income ,security ,act of #aigd1 and subchapter ,b of chapter #ajj of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 as applicable4 7c7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,eligible service ,the term eligible service means1 with respect to a group health plan and a health insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance coverage1 a service-- 7,a7 for which benefits are provided under such plan or such coverage when such service is furnished in-person2 7,b7 that is medically necessary 7as determined by the health care provider furnishing such service72 and 7,c7 that is able to be safely and effectively furnished via a telecommunications system4 7#b7 ,health insurance terms ,the terms group health plan1 health insurance issuer1 group health insurance coverage1 and individual health insurance coverage have the meanings given such terms in section #bgia of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cjj;gg-#ia71 section #gcc of the ,employee ,retirement ,income ,security ,act of #aigd 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #aaia;b71 and section #ihcb of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf1 as applicable4 7#c7 ,qualifying telecommunications system ,the term qualifying telecommunications system means a telecommunications system that includes1 at a minimum1 audio capabilities permitting two-way1 real-time interactive communication between the individual receiving an eligible service via such system and the health care provider furnishing such system1 including a telephone1 videoconferencing system1 internet communications system1 streaming media communications system1 and such other systems as specified by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7d7 ,effective date ,this section shall apply with respect to items and services furnished on or after the first day of the emergency period described in subsection 7a74