EASE Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markwayne Mullin
Introduced
Summary
Expand access to specialty care in rural and underserved areas using telehealth and other digital tools. This bill would have the federal innovation center test a model that contracts with nonprofit provider networks to deliver specialty services to eligible Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP enrollees in rural or underserved locations, coordinated with their primary care providers.
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- Families and patients: Eligible people on Medicare Part A or Part B, and those enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP who live in rural or underserved areas would get more access to specialty care through telehealth and other remote technologies.
- Rural clinics and community providers: Networks must include at least 50 federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, or rural emergency hospitals, with at least half located in rural areas, and must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities.
- Program and data requirements: Selected networks must show a track record serving underserved regions and the ability to collect and share data. Funding to run the model would follow existing limits in Public Law 117-328 for programs under sections 330–340 of the Public Health Service Act.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
More specialty telehealth for rural patients
If enacted, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP enrollees in rural or underserved areas would be able to get specialty care by telehealth. The bill would have the government contract with nonprofit provider networks made of at least 50 clinics, rural health centers, or rural hospitals. At least half those sites must be in rural areas. Networks must show multi-region experience and the ability to collect and share data. Any money to run the model would have to follow rules in Public Law 117-328. The bill does not itself appropriate new funds.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markwayne Mullin
OK • R
Cosponsors
Alex Padilla
CA • D
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Thomas Tillis
NC • R
Sponsored 4/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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