Bill · H.R. 5496· House(119-HR-5496)
HEALTH Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 9/18/2025
- Last activity
- 9/18/2025 — 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.
- Sponsored by
- Glenn Thompson
- Cosponsors
- - 0 - 5
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Helping Ensure Access to Local TeleHealth Act of 2025" aims to make Medicare payments for telehealth services provided by rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers permanent. It expands the definition of telecommunications systems to include audio-only communication. The bill also removes geographic and site requirements for these centers when they serve as the distant site for telehealth.
Yes· 3 of 23
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+9
Primary target of the bill, removing site restrictions and enabling RHC telehealth.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+8
Medicare beneficiaries, predominantly seniors, gain permanent and expanded telehealth access.
Would retired people be better off under this?+8
Directly benefits Medicare-eligible retirees via permanent telehealth payments.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-2
Permanent Medicare payments for telehealth likely increase federal spending.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-2
The bill mandates permanent payments for telehealth services, increasing expenditures.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?-2
Permanent expansion of Medicare payment obligations may strain the budget.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Expanded Access to Care: By allowing "audio-only communications" to count as a telecommunications system, people who may lack video-capable technology can still receive telehealth services (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Permanent Service Availability: The bill provides for "permanent payments" for telehealth services furnished by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, ensuring these services do not disappear when emergency periods end (Section 2(b)).
-
Removal of Location Barriers: The "geographic and site requirements" are eliminated for federally qualified health centers or rural health clinics serving as a distant site, which removes restrictions on where the service is provided (Section 2(c)(1)(B)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Payment Restrictions for Originating Sites: A "facility fee" will not be paid to an originating site for telehealth services from a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic unless that site meets specific descriptions listed in the law (Section 2(c)(2)(B)(iii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Rural Residents+9Good For Retirees+8Good For Seniors+8Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Native Americans+7Good For Farmers+6Good For People With Disabilities+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Asian Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For White Americans+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+8Increases Medicare Funding+5Improves Mental Health Access+4Improves Opioid Crisis Response+3Improves Pandemic Preparedness+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Disability Rights+4Improves Racial Equity+4Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility-2Reduces Government Spending-2Reduces National Debt-2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+5Reduces Carbon Emissions+1
- 1/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 10/21/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- 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.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Marcy KapturDemocrat · Ohio
Chris PappasDemocrat · New Hampshire
Melanie StansburyDemocrat · New Mexico
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia