# 117-hr-5837: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services relating to substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes.

117-hr-5837, To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services relating to substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes., is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. (as of 2025-11-18).

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- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-5837
- Congress: 117
- Title: To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to expand access to telehealth services relating to substance use disorder treatment, and for other purposes.
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
- Introduced: 2021-11-03
- Sponsor: Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

This bill modifies requirements relating to coverage of certain telehealth services under Medicare. Specifically, the bill permanently allows telehealth services for substance-use disorders and mental health disorders to be provided via audio-only technology and without an initial in-person evaluation. Schedule III or IV controlled substances may also be prescribed online if a practitioner has conducted a telehealth evaluation with video; certain opioid agonists may be prescribed via audio-only technology if the beneficiary initially lacks access to video technology but receives a follow-up evaluation via video within 10 days. The Department of Health and Human Services must establish an interagency task force to study the utilization and effect of opioid agonist prescriptions that are issued via telehealth.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-4693: Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021
- 117-hr-1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 117-hr-1193: Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act
- 117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation…
- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-5837 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5837)

## Related
- [117-hr-4693: Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4693)
- [117-hr-1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1448)
- [117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3537)
- [117-hr-1193: Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1193)
- [117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5142)
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5837 (as of 2025-11-18).