Bill Sponsor
House Bill 7593
116th Congress(2019-2020)
TREATS Act
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in House on Jul 13, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced in House 
Jul 13, 2020
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Introduced in House(Jul 13, 2020)
Jul 13, 2020
About Linkage
Multiple bills can contain the same text. This could be an identical bill in the opposite chamber or a smaller bill with a section embedded in a larger bill.
Bill Sponsor regularly scans bill texts to find sections that are contained in other bill texts. When a matching section is found, the bills containing that section can be viewed by clicking "View Bills" within the bill text section.
Bill Sponsor is currently only finding exact word-for-word section matches. In a future release, partial matches will be included.
H. R. 7593 (Introduced-in-House)


116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7593


To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the use of telehealth for substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 13, 2020

Mr. McKinley (for himself, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Trone, and Mr. Budd) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned


A BILL

To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to increase the use of telehealth for substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services Act” or “TREATS Act”.

SEC. 2. Telehealth for substance use disorder treatment.

(a) Substance use disorder services furnished through telehealth under Medicare.—Section 1834(m)(7) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(7)) is amended by adding at the end the following: “With respect to telehealth services described in the preceding sentence that are furnished on or after January 1, 2020, nothing shall preclude the furnishing of such services through audio or telephone only technologies in the case where a physician or practitioner has already conducted an in-person medical evaluation or a telehealth evaluation that utilizes both audio and visual capabilities with the eligible telehealth individual.”.

(b) Controlled substances dispensed by means of the internet.—Section 309(e)(2) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 829(e)(2)) is amended—

(1) in subparagraph (A)(i)—

(A) by striking “at least 1 in-person medical evaluation” and inserting the following: “at least—

“(I) 1 in-person medical evaluation”; and

(B) by adding at the end the following:

“(II) for purposes of prescribing a controlled substance in schedule III or IV, 1 telehealth evaluation; or”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(D) (i) The term ‘telehealth evaluation’ means a medical evaluation that is conducted in accordance with applicable Federal and State laws by a practitioner (other than a pharmacist) who is at a location remote from the patient and is communicating with the patient using a telecommunications system referred to in section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real-time interactive communication between the patient and distant site practitioner.

“(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed to imply that 1 telehealth evaluation demonstrates that a prescription has been issued for a legitimate medical purpose within the usual course of professional practice.

“(iii) A practitioner who prescribes the drugs or combination of drugs that are covered under section 303(g)(2)(C) using the authority under subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of this paragraph shall adhere to nationally recognized evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of patients with opioid use disorders and a diversion control plan, as those terms are defined in section 8.2 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this subparagraph.”.