# Plain Language Summary: KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government temporarily expanded telehealth services—allowing people to see doctors through video calls and phone appointments instead of in person—under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This bill asks the government to study what happened during that expansion and report back to Congress about whether these changes should become permanent.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate which telehealth services were made available, which types of doctors and providers were allowed to offer them, and how many people actually used them. The report needs to break down the numbers by different groups—rural communities, minorities, low-income people, and seniors—to see who benefited most. It also needs to look specifically at mental health and behavioral health services, since telehealth proved particularly useful for those types of care. The government has six months to complete this study and publish it online so the public can see the results.

Additionally, two independent advisory commissions that advise Congress on Medicare and Medicaid payments will conduct their own studies within a year. They'll examine what worked well with telehealth expansion, what barriers still exist, and whether there were any problems with fraud or abuse that came with offering more remote services. Both groups will make recommendations about which telehealth expansions should continue and how to prevent fraud.

In practical terms, this bill doesn't change any current rules—it just gathers information to help Congress decide whether the pandemic-era telehealth flexibility should stay in place permanently or expire as originally planned. The findings could influence whether you'll be able to continue seeing your doctor remotely through Medicare or Medicaid in the future.

KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2023

Balderson, Troy

Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent Telehealth Options Act of 2023 or the KEEP Telehealth Options Act of 2023 This bill requires the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services to report on telehealth expansion under Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) during the COVID-19 public health emergency and through December 31, 2024. The report must include information relating to the types of services available, the utilization of services, and the effects on public health. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission must also report on any improvements or barriers with respect to such expanded services, as well as any associated risks of fraudulent activity.