HR 4008 — Increasing Rural Telehealth Access Act of 2021

(a) Definitions In this section: (1) Director; Office The terms “Director” and “Office” mean the Director and Office specified in subsection (c). (2) Federally qualified health center and rural health clinic The term “Federally qualified health center” and “rural health clinic” have the meanings given the terms in section 1395x(aa) of this title. (3) Frontier community The term “frontier community” shall have the meaning given the term in regulations issued under subsection (r). (4) Medically underserved area The term “medically underserved area” has the meaning given the term “medically underserved community” in section 295p(6) of this title. (5) Medically underserved population The term “medically underserved population” has the meaning given the term in section 254b(b)(3) of this title. (6) Telehealth services The term “telehealth services” means services provided through telehealth technologies. (7) Telehealth technologies The term “telehealth technologies” means technologies relating to the use of electronic information, and telecommunications technologies, to support and promote, at a distance, health care, patient and professional health-related education, health administration, and public health. (b) Programs The Secretary shall establish, under section 241 of this title, telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. (c) Administration (1) Establishment There is established in the Health Resources and Services Administration an Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. The Office shall be headed by a Director. (2) Duties The telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs established under section 241 of this title shall be administered by the Director, in consultation with the State offices of rural health, State offices concerning primary care, or other appropriate State government entities. (d) Grants (1) Telehealth network grants The Director may, in carrying out the telehealth network grant program referred to in subsection (b), award grants to eligible entities for evidence-based projects that utilize telehealth technologies through telehealth networks in rural areas, frontier communities, and medically underserved areas, and for medically underserved populations, to— (A) expand access to, coordinate, and improve access to, and the quality of, health care services; and (B) expand and improve the quality of health information available to health care providers,,1 patients, and their families. (2) Telehealth resource centers grants The Director may, in carrying out the telehealth resource centers grant program referred to in subsection (b), award grants to eligible entities for projects to support initiatives that utilize telehealth technologies in the areas and communities, and for the populations, described in paragraph (1). (e) Grant periods The Director may award grants under this section for periods of not more than 5 years. (f) Eligible entities (1) In general To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (d)(1), an entity shall demonstrate that the entity will provide services through a telehealth network. (2) Nature of entities Each entity participating in the telehealth network may be a nonprofit or for-profit entity. (3) Composition of network The telehealth network shall include at least 2 of the following entities (at least 1 of which shall be a community-based health care provider): (A) Community or migrant health centers or other Federally qualified health centers. (B) Health care providers, including pharmacists, in private practice. (C) Entities operating clinics, including rural health clinics. (D) Local health departments. (E) Nonprofit hospitals, including community access hospitals. (F) Other publicly funded health or social service agencies. (G) Long-term care providers. (H) Providers of health care services in the home. (I) Providers of outpatient mental health and substance use disorder services and entities operating outpatient mental health and...