# 117-hr-8489: Greater Access to Telehealth Act

117-hr-8489, Greater Access to Telehealth Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1] (R-AZ); status Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8489
- 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-8489
- Congress: 117
- Title: Greater Access to Telehealth Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.
- Introduced: 2022-07-26
- Sponsor: Rep. Schweikert, David [R-AZ-1] (R-AZ)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Greater Access to Telehealth Act This bill modifies the extension of certain Medicare telehealth flexibilities after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Specifically, the bill provides that certain flexibilities continue to apply until December 31, 2026, if the emergency period ends before that date. The bill allows beneficiaries to continue to receive telehealth services at any site, regardless of type or location (e.g., the beneficiary's home); occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists to continue to furnish telehealth services; federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to continue to serve as the distant site (i.e., the location of the health care practitioner); evaluation and management and behavioral health services to continue to be provided via audio-only technology; and hospice physicians and nurse practitioners to continue to complete certain requirements relating to patient recertifications via telehealth. The bill also delays implementation of certain in-person evaluation requirements for mental health telehealth services until January 1, 2027, or the first day after the end of the emergency period, whichever is later.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1] (R-IA), 2022-07-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1] (R-GA), 2022-07-26T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 117-hr-3537: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS 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-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods, J. Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, in recognition of thei…
- 117-hr-9092: Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act
- 117-hres-1386: Supporting the designation of the week of September 26 through September 30, 2022, as "National Clean Energy Week".

## Sources
- [117-hr-8489 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8489)

## Related
- [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-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5142)
- [117-hr-310: To posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to Glen Doher…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-310)
- [117-hr-9092: Family and Small Business Taxpayer Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-9092)
- [117-hres-1386: Supporting the designation of the week of September 26 through September 30, 20…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hres-1386)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8489 (as of 2025-11-18).