I
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1148
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2017
Mr. Griffith (for himself, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Ryan of Ohio, Mr. Collins of New York, Mr. Roe of Tennessee, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Babin, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Johnson of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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 expand access to telehealth-eligible stroke services under the Medicare program.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine Act of 2017
or the FAST Act of 2017
.
Expanding access to telehealth-eligible stroke services under the Medicare program
In general
Section 1834(m)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)) is amended—
in subparagraph (C)—
in clause (i), by striking The term
and inserting Subject to clause (iii), the term
; and
by adding at the end the following new clause:
Telehealth-eligible stroke services
With respect to telehealth-eligible stroke services, the term originating site means any hospital, or any mobile unit equipped with the ability to evaluate possible stroke patients while being transported to a hospital, at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, regardless of where the hospital or mobile unit is located.
;
in subparagraph (F)(i) by inserting telehealth-eligible stroke services,
after Secretary)),
; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
Telehealth-eligible stroke services
The term telehealth-eligible stroke services
means services that are—
related to the diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of symptoms in an individual of an acute stroke; and
provided to such individual not later than four and a half hours (or such other clinically appropriate amount of time as is determined by the Secretary) after the onset of such symptoms with respect to such individual.
.
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
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to services furnished on or after the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
