Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del) https://bluntrochester.house.gov and Michael C. Burgess (R-Tx) https://burgess.house.gov recently introduced the Telehealth Improvement for Kids’ Essential Services (TIKES) Act of 2020.
Today, there is a wide variation in telehealth policies among State Medicaid programs. As states consider how to expand coverage of telehealth services, there is limited guidance or information on how to aid in their planning. This bill would create an opportunity for the federal government to provide more clarity to states as they consider how to expand coverage of telehealth services.
The TIKES Act would require CMS to provide states with guidance and strategies to increase telehealth access for children covered under Medicaid and CHIP which covers care for those that who least afford it.
The legislation would:
- Promote greater coordination among federal agencies regarding their telehealth programs and policies and recommend a long term evaluation of the impact of telehealth use across Medicaid and CHIP populations
- Require a MACPAC study to examine data and information on the impact of telehealth on the Medicaid population
- Require a GAO study reviewing coordination among federal agency telehealth policies and examine opportunities for better collaboration along with information on opportunities for telehealth expansion into early care and education settings
Representative Blunt Rochester explains, “The TIKES Act will bring better alignment and clarity to Medicaid telehealth policies, as well as provide guidance to state Medicaid programs on how telehealth services can help children. As Representative Burgess adds, “In addition, TIKES directs studies to gather data that can help inform future telehealth policy and we are happy to introduce this important legislation.”
Go to https://bluntrochester.house.gov/uploadedfiles/200930_final_tikes_act.pdf for more information on the TIKES Act.