,,ii  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 #cihh  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,june #ag1     
#bjbj,mr4 ,cassidy 7for himself1 ,ms4   
,smith1 ,mr4 ,jones1 and ,mr4 ,sullivan7
 introduced the following bill2 which   
was read twice and referred to the      
,committee on ,health1 ,education1      
,labor1 and ,pensions  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
amend the ,public ,health ,service ,act 
with respect to telehealth enhancements 
for emergency response4  #a4 ,short     
title ,this ,act may be cited as the    
,enhancing ,preparedness through        
,telehealth ,act4  #b4 ,telehealth      
enhancements for emergency response     
,subsection 7e7 of section #cai;,d of   
the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db  
,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d-#d7 is amended to read 
as follows3  7e7 ,telehealth            
enhancements for emergency response     
7#a7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary1 in    
consultation with the ,federal          
,communications ,commission and other   
relevant ,federal agencies1 shall1 every

 #e years-- 7,a7 conduct an inventory of
 telehealth initiatives in existence on 
the date of enactment of the ,enhancing 
,preparedness through ,telehealth ,act1 
including the-- 7i7 specific location of
 networks and health information        
technology infrastructure that support  
such initiatives2  7ii7 medical1        
technological1 and communications       
capabilities of such initiatives2  7iii7
 functionality of such initiatives2 and 
7iv7 capacity and ability of such       
initiatives to handle increased volume  
during the response to a public health  
emergency2  7,b7 identify methods to    
expand and interconnect the ,state and  
regional health information networks    
funded by the ,secretary1 the ,state and
 regional broadband networks funded by  
the ,federal ,communications            
,commission1 including such networks    
supported by the rural health care      
support mechanism pilot program1 and    
other telehealth networks2  7,c7        
evaluate ways to prepare for1 monitor1  

respond rapidly to1 or manage the events
 of1 a public health emergency through  
the enhanced use of telehealth          
technologies1 including-- 7i7 mechanisms
 for payment or reimbursement for use of
 such technologies and personnel during 
public health emergencies2  7ii7 the use
 of telehealth technologies and services
 by health care providers in recent     
public health emergencies2  7iii7 ways  
in which ,states used telehealth        
technologies and services in ,state     
responses to public health emergencies2 
and  7iv7 infrastructure and resource   
needs to ensure providers have the      
necessary tools1 training1 and technical
 assistance to provide telehealth       
services2  7,d7 identify methods for    
reducing legal barriers that deter      
health care professionals from providing
 telehealth services1 such as by        
utilizing ,state emergency health care  
professional credentialing verification 
systems1 encouraging ,states to         
establish and implement mechanisms to   

improve interstate medical licensure    
cooperation1 facilitating the exchange  
of information among ,states regarding  
investigations and adverse actions1 and 
encouraging ,states to waive the        
application of licensing requirements   
during a public health emergency2  7,e7 
evaluate ways to integrate the practice 
of telehealth within the ,national      
,disaster ,medical ,system or any recent
 actions taken related to such          
integration2  7,f7 promote greater      
coordination among existing ,federal    
interagency telehealth and health       
information technology initiatives2 and 
7,g7 make recommendations related to    
updates on the use of telehealth in     
public health emergencies in ,federal   
and ,state public health preparedness   
plans and any actions taken to implement
 such recommendations4  7#b7 ,report    
7,a7 ,in general  7i7 ,initial report   
,not later than #a year after the date  
of enactment of the ,enhancing          
,preparedness through ,telehealth ,act1 

the ,secretary shall prepare and submit 
a report to the ,committee on ,health1  
,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the
 ,senate and the ,committee on ,energy  
and ,commerce of the ,house of          
,representatives regarding the findings 
and recommendations pursuant to         
paragraph 7#a74  7ii7 ,subsequent       
reports ,the ,secretary shall submit    
updated reports described in clause 7i7 
to the committees described in such     
clause not later than ,january #a1      
#bjbc1 and every #e years thereafter4   
7,b7 ,considerations ,in preparing the  
reports under subparagraph 7,a71 the    
,secretary shall take into consideration
 potential barriers to the adoption of  
telehealth by patients and providers    
during a public health emergency1       
including-- 7i7 provider reimbursement2 
7ii7 insurance coverage2  7iii7 provider
 licensure2  7iv7 accessibility of      
telehealth and remote technologies2 and 
7v7 concerns around violating relevant  
privacy1 security1 and patient safety   

regulations4  4