article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Rural Telemedicine Enhancing Community Health (TECH) Act of 2009''. SEC. 2. TELEHEALTH PILOT PROJECTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') shall establish 3- year telehealth pilot projects for the purpose of analyzing the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas. The Secretary shall provide evaluation and treatment services to entities participating in the pilot projects. (b) Eligible Entities.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary shall select eligible entities to participate in the pilot projects under this section. (2) Priority.--In selecting eligible entities to participate in the pilot projects under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to such entities located in medically underserved areas and facilities of the Indian Health Service. (c) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall, through the pilot projects, evaluate-- (1) the effective and economic delivery of care in treating behavioral health issues (including post-traumatic stress disorder) with the use of telehealth services in medically underserved and tribal areas, including collaborative uses of health professionals, integration of the range of telehealth and other technologies, and exploration of appropriate reimbursement methods for third party payers; (2) the effectiveness of improving the capacity of non- medical providers and non-specialized medical providers to provide health services for chronic complex diseases in medically underserved and tribal areas; and (3) the effectiveness of using telehealth services to provide acute stroke evaluation and treatment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology services to treat cerebrovascular disease in medically underserved and tribal areas. (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the pilot projects are established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing the outcomes of such pilot projects and providing recommendations for expanding the use of telehealth services. (e) Expansion of Project.--If the Secretary determines that the pilot projects under this section enhance outcomes for patients and reduce expenditures for participating entities, the Secretary may initiate similar projects for additional medical conditions and geographic areas. (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $13,500,000 for fiscal years 2011 through 2014. SEC. 3. EXPANDING ACCESS TO STROKE TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) Expansion of Originating Sites for Stroke Telehealth Services.--Section 1834(m)(4) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)) is amended-- (1) in subparagraph (C)-- (A) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking ``The term'' and inserting ``Subject to clause (iii), the term''; and (B) by adding at the end the following new clause: ``(iii) Expansion of originating sites for stroke telehealth services.--In the case of stroke telehealth services, the term `originating site' means any site described in clause (ii) at which the eligible telehealth individual is located at the time the service is furnished via a telecommunications system, regardless of where the site is located.''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ``(G) Stroke telehealth services.--The term `stroke telehealth services' means a telehealth service used for the evaluation or treatment of individuals with acute stroke, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech language pathology services furnished subsequent to a stroke, and stroke prevention and education services.''. (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to telehealth services furnished on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES AT IHS FACILITIES AND FQHCS. (a) Inclusion of IHS Facilities as Originating Sites.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(ii)) is amended by adding at the end the following new subclause: ``(IX) A facility of the Indian Health Service, whether operated by such Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).''. (b) Access to Store-and-Forward and Videoconferencing Technologies.-- (1) In general.--Section 1834(m)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following sentence: ``For purposes of the first sentence, in the case of telehealth services described in subclause (I) of paragraph (4)(F)(iii) that are furnished by a facility of the Indian Health Service (whether operated by such Service or by an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act)) or a federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)), the term `telecommunications system' includes store-and-forward technologies described in the preceding sentence and, in the case of telehealth services described in subclause (II) of such paragraph that are furnished by such a facility or federally qualified health center, such term includes videoconferencing technologies.'' (2) Conforming amendment.--Section 1834(m)(4)(F) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(F)) is amended by adding at the end the following new clauses: ``(iii) Telehealth services described.--For purposes of paragraph (1): ``(I) The telehealth services described in this subclause include consultations related to neurosurgery, neurology, cardiology, dermatology, pediatric specialty, and orthopedic (as specified by the Secretary). ``(II) The telehealth services described in this subclause are services related to hepatitis and other chronic conditions and behavioral health services (as specified by the Secretary).''. (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply to telehealth services furnished on or after the date that is 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 5. IMPROVING CREDENTIALING AND PRIVILEGING STANDARDS FOR TELEHEALTH SERVICES. Section 1834(m) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ``(5) Establishment of remote credentialing and privileging standards.-- ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this paragraph, the Secretary shall establish reasonable regulations for considering the remote credentialing and privileging standards applicable to telehealth services, including interpretative services, for originating sites under this subsection. Such regulations shall allow an originating site to accept, and not duplicate, the credentialing and privileging processes and decisions made by another site. ``(B) Clarification regarding acceptance of processes and decisions prior to enactment of regulations.--During the period beginning on such date of enactment and ending on the effective date of the regulations under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall not take any punitive action under any rule or regulation against an originating site on the basis of that site's acceptance, for purposes of receiving telehealth services (including interpretive services), the credentialing and privileging processes and decisions made by another site that is accredited by a national accreditation body recognized by the Secretary under section 1865(a)(1) if the site accepting such credentialing and privileging processes is also so accredited and complies with the applicable requirements for such acceptance.''.
summary: Rural Telemedicine Enhancing Community Health (TECH) Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish telehealth pilot projects for the purpose of analyzing the clinical outcomes and cost effectiveness associated with telehealth services in a variety of geographic areas. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to: (1) provide for expansion of originating telehealth sites for stroke telehealth services; (2) provide access to store-and-forward telehealth services in facilities of the Indian Health Service and federally qualified health centers; and (3) direct the Secretary to establish reasonable regulations to consider the remote credentialing and privileging standards for originating sites with respect to telehealth services.