To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect access to telehealth services under the Medicare program.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7444 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7444 To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect access to telehealth services under the Medicare program. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2026 Mr. Pappas (for himself and Mr. Nunn of Iowa) introduced the following bill; which was 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 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to protect access to telehealth services under the Medicare program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act''. SEC. 2. ELIMINATION OF RESTRICTIONS RELATING TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES. (a) Elimination of Geographic Requirements for Originating Sites.-- Section 1834(m)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)) is amended-- (1) in clause (i), in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking ``clause (iii)'' and inserting ``clauses (iii) and (iv)''; and (2) by adding at the end the following new clause: ``(iv) Elimination of geographic requirements for originating sites.--The geographic requirements described in clause (i) shall not apply with respect to telehealth services furnished on or after January 1, 2027.''. (b) Elimination of Restrictions in Which Telehealth Services May Be Furnished in the Home.--Section 1834(m)(4)(C)(ii)(X) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395m(m)(4)(C)(i)(X)) is amended to read as follows: