,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbaf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bj1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,fischer 7for herself and ,ms4 ,rosen7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,finance ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services and the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states to conduct studies and report to ,congress on actions taken to expand access to telehealth services under the ,medicare1 ,medicaid1 and ,children's ,health ,insurance programs during the ,,covid-#ai emergency4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,knowing the ,efficiency and ,efficacy of ,permanent ,telehealth ,options ,act of #bjbj or the ,,keep ,telehealth ,options ,act of #bjbj4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,on ,january #ba1 #bjbj1 the ,united ,states confirmed the ,nation's first case of the #bjai novel coronavirus 7which presents as the disease ,,covid-#ai74 7#b7 ,on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services 7in this ,act referred to as the ,secretary7 declared a public health emergency in response to ,,covid-#ai4 7#c7 ,by ,march1 the disease reached the pandemic level according to the ,world ,health ,organization1 and the ,president proclaimed the ,,covid-#ai outbreak in the ,united ,states to constitute a national emergency4 7#d7 ,this emergency declaration authorizes the ,secretary to temporarily waive or modify certain requirements of the ,medicare1 ,medicaid1 and ,state ,children's ,health ,insurance programs and of the ,health ,insurance ,portability and ,accountability ,act ,privacy ,rule throughout the duration of the public health emergency declared in response to the ,,covid-#ai outbreak4 7#e7 ,under this authority1 the ,secretary1 and the ,administrator of the ,centers for ,medicare ,medicaid ,services 7in this ,act referred to as the ,administrator7 acting under the ,secretary's authority1 issued numerous rules1 regulations1 and waivers enabling the expansion of telehealth services during the public health emergency4 7#f7 ,telehealth services play a critical role in enhancing access to care for patients while simultaneously reducing the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for both patients and providers4 7#g7 ,the ,administrator expanded access to telehealth services under the public health emergency to all ,medicare beneficiaries 7including clinician-provided services to new and established patients74 7#h7 ,on ,april #bc1 #bjbj1 the ,administrator released a telehealth toolkit to assist ,states in expanding the use of telehealth through ,medicaid and ,,chip4 7#i7 ,expanded telehealth options are valuable for all ,americans during this public health crisis1 but especially for high-risk patients and rural ,americans who already have difficulty accessing care4 #c4 ,studies and reports on the expansion of access to telehealth services during the ,,covid-#ai emergency 7a7 ,,hhs 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,administrator1 shall conduct a study and submit to ,congress a report on actions taken by the ,secretary during 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;,b77 to expand access to telehealth services under the ,medicare program1 the ,medicaid program1 and the ,children's ,health ,insurance program4 ,such report shall include the following3 7,a7 ,a comprehensive list of telehealth services available under such programs and an explanation of all actions undertaken by the ,secretary during the emergency period described in such paragraph to expand access to such services4 7,b7 ,a comprehensive list of types of providers that may be reimbursed for such services furnished under such programs during such period1 including a list of services which may only be reimbursed under such programs during such period if furnished by such providers in-person4 7,c7 ,a quantitative analysis of the use of such telehealth services under such programs during such period1 including data points on use by rural1 minority1 low-income1 and elderly populations4 7,d7 ,a quantitative analysis of the use of such services under such programs during such period for mental and behavioral health treatments4 7,e7 ,an analysis of the public health impacts of the actions described in subparagraph 7,a74 7#b7 ,publication of report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall publish on the public website of the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services the report described in paragraph 7#a74 7b7 ,,gao 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #baj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study and submit to ,congress a report on-- 7,a7 the efficiency1 management1 and success and failures of the expansion of access to telehealth services under the ,medicare1 ,medicaid1 and ,children's ,health ,insurance programs during the emergency period described in subsection 7a77#a72 and 7,b7 any risk in increased fraudulent activity1 and types of fraudulent activity1 associated with such expansion4 7#b7 ,recommendations ,the report submitted under paragraph 7#a7 shall include recommendations on-- 7,a7 potential improvements to telehealth services1 and expansions of such services1 under the programs described in paragraph 7#a77;,a72 and 7,b7 ways to address any fraudulent activity described in paragraph 7#a77;,b74