S 1248
EASE Act
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
The Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act (EASE Act) directs the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to develop and test a model aimed at improving access to specialty health services for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. This model will utilize digital technologies like telehealth to coordinate care between specialty providers and primary care physicians. The model will be implemented through agreements with networks of healthcare providers including Federally qualified health centers and rural hospitals.
Key provisions
- Requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to develop a Specialty Health Care Services Access Model.
- The model will utilize digital modalities (telehealth, etc.) to coordinate care.
- The model will involve agreements with provider networks including FQHCs, rural hospitals, and critical access hospitals.
- Networks must be nonprofit and have a record of serving rural and underserved communities.
- The model will focus on individuals enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP who live in rural or underserved areas.
- The model must include a telehealth component.
- The model will collect and evaluate data.
- The model is subject to funding requirements outlined in Public Law 117-328.
Who is affected
- Medicare beneficiaries
- Medicaid beneficiaries
- Rural healthcare providers
- Federally Qualified Health Centers
- Individuals in rural and underserved areas
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Thomas Tillis
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
S. 1248
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
A BILL
To amend title XI of the Social Security Act to require the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model to improve access to specialty health services for certain Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
This Act may be cited as the Ensuring Access to Specialty Care Everywhere Act EASE Act
or the
.
in subsection (b)(2)—
in subparagraph (A), in the third sentence, by inserting , and shall include the model described in subparagraph (B)(xxviii)
before the period at the end; and
in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following new clause:
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
The Secretary shall select one or more networks of providers for purposes of furnishing services under the model described in paragraph (1). Any such network so selected shall—
be comprised of at least 50 Federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, or rural emergency hospitals, at least half of which are located in rural areas (as defined by the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration);
be a nonprofit entity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
have an established record of supporting the delivery of health care in rural and underserved communities in multiple regions throughout the country; and
have the ability to collect, exchange, and evaluate data for purposes of the model described in paragraph (1).
who—
is entitled to benefits under part A of title XVIII or enrolled under part B of such title; or
who is located in a rural or underserved area (as specified by the Secretary).
Any amounts appropriated or allocated to carry out the amendments made by this section shall be subject to the requirements contained in Public Law 117–328 for funds for programs authorized under sections 330 through 340 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b through 256).