Matsui Introduces Two Bills that Leverage Telehealth to Increase Access to Behavioral Health Treatment

Washington, D.C. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) today introduced the "Improving Access to Remote Behavioral Health Treatment Act" with Congressman Gregg Harper (R-MS) and the "Access to Telehealth Services for Opioid Use Disorders Act" with Congressman Tony CᲤenas (D-CA). Both pieces of legislation will be included in the April 25 House Energy andamp; Commerce Health Subcommittee markup of legislation related to the opioid epidemic.

"Leveraging telehealth is one way we can increase the reach of treatment and services for people with substance use disorders," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Both of these bills will expand access to quality treatment, which can be difficult for patients and families to find. This is one of the many steps we should be taking to improve the entire behavioral health spectrum of care."

Specifically, the Improving Access to Remote Behavioral Health Treatment Act increases access to medication-assisted treatment at community behavioral health clinics in underserved areas through the use of telemedicine under the Ryan Haight Act.

The Access to Telehealth Services for Opioid Use Disorders Act, based on Rep. Matsui and Rep. Bill Johnson's Evidence-Based Telehealth Expansion Act (H.R. 3482), would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to waive Medicare restrictions on reimbursement for telemedicine services provided to patients suffering from an opioid use disorder.

Both pieces of legislation were considered as discussion drafts during Energy andamp; Commerce Health Subcommittee hearings on ways to fight the opioid epidemic.

On Wednesday, the Committee will also markup H.R. 3331, which Congresswoman Matsui co-authored with Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS) to incentivize behavioral health providers to adopt electronic health record technology.

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