Senate Finance Bill Gives National Academy Key Role In Audio-Only Tele-Mental Health

The Senate Finance Committee would give the National Academy of Medicine a key role in informing future policy on audio-only appointments to treat behavioral health disorders if the committee’s tele-mental health care draft bill becomes law. CMS would be required to consider the findings from an NAM report when making changes to audio-only coverage and safeguards, according to audio-only services provision of the discussion draft. Telehealth stakeholders say CMS already has the authority to regularly review data and amend policy...