Four senators have introduced a bipartisan bill that would remove barriers to accessing telemedicine services for behavioral healthcare for Medicare beneficiaries.
The Telemental Health Care Access Act was introduced by senators Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La.; Tina Smith, D-Minn.; and John Thune, R-S.D., according to a Jan. 24 news release from Mr. Cardin's office.
If passed, it would allow Medicare patients direct access to mental health services through telehealth by removing the requirement that they must be seen in person within six months of being treated through telehealth for mental health needs.