Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act of 2024

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7858, the Telehealth Enhancement for Mental Health Act.

This bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a modifier on claims submitted to Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth. This modifier will allow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify when mental health services are being provided virtually by different types of providers and will help ensure beneficiaries receiving mental health support remotely can access care when they need it.

We know that mental health care is healthcare. In the face of an ongoing mental health and substance use disorder epidemic, it is critical that Medicare beneficiaries are able to access behavioral and mental health services virtually.

This bill will ensure Medicare beneficiaries enjoy continued access to high-quality telemental health services from a range of qualified providers.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on H.R.

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, again, now, we are dealing with another important telehealth bill for mental health services, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill, as well, on both sides of the aisle, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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