HR 1785, the Preventing Medicare Telefraud Act, requires doctors to have seen Medicare patients in person at least once within the past six months before ordering high-cost durable medical equipment or laboratory tests via telehealth. This applies to services covered under Medicare, directly affecting providers who frequently use telehealth for these specific high-cost items. The bill mandates Medicare contractors to audit providers ordering 90% or more of such equipment or tests via telehealth, and also requires providers to submit their National Provider Identifier (NPI) when billing for telehealth services. These provisions aim to prevent potential fraud by ensuring in-person evaluations precede telehealth orders for expensive medical items.
This bill requires the FDA to reinstate the 2011 safety program for mifepristone (the drug sold as Mifeprex) and bans its importation into the U.S. It creates federal liability for harm caused by illegal importers of the drug, allowing lawsuits for bodily injury or mental health harm resulting from unauthorized importation. The law applies specifically to telehealth providers, pharmacies, or others who knowingly import mifepristone across state lines. It takes effect 90 days after enactment.
HR 5629 would prevent the Department of Health and Human Services' final rule on opioid treatment medications from taking effect, except for changes to accreditation standards for opioid treatment programs. The rule, published in February 2024, aimed to expand access to certain medications for opioid use disorder by modifying treatment protocols. This bill would maintain current regulations for medication-assisted treatment by blocking the rule's implementation, while leaving accreditation requirements unchanged. As a result, existing treatment guidelines would remain in place, but program accreditation standards would still be updated per the rule's exception.
This bill would require the FDA to replace current regulations for mifepristone (the drug sold as Mifeprex) with the 2011 risk management plan, reversing recent changes. It bans the importation of mifepristone into the U.S. (including by mail) and creates a federal civil liability for entities that illegally import or transport the drug, allowing individuals harmed by the drug to sue for damages. The law directly affects drug manufacturers, importers, telehealth providers, and pharmacies that handle mifepristone, and would make it illegal to import the drug regardless of state laws. It does not change how the drug is prescribed or dispensed within the U.S. but targets its importation and imposes new legal consequences for violations.
HR 3467 reforms Medicare Advantage (MA) by requiring most plans to use fixed payments per member (capitated payments) starting in 2028, with exceptions for existing plans and special needs plans. It modifies payments by reducing blended benchmarks, changing how health status risk adjustments are calculated (using only face-to-face/telehealth diagnoses), and eliminating quality-based payment increases. The bill mandates automatic enrollment into the lowest-premium MA plan for eligible beneficiaries starting in 2028, with a 3-year enrollment lock-in period unless a hardship event occurs. Additionally, it requires MA plans to include hospice care coverage (with a 2028 transition exception) and adds an exception for durable medical equipment and Part D drugs under the Stark Law.
HR 729, the Teleabortion Prevention Act of 2025, prohibits healthcare providers from administering chemical abortions (using drugs to terminate pregnancy) via telehealth or remote means without being physically present during the procedure. It requires providers to physically examine the patient, be present at the location of the abortion, and schedule a follow-up visit within 14 days. The bill directly affects healthcare providers offering telemedicine abortion services, imposing fines up to $1,000 or up to 2 years in prison for violations. Exceptions apply for life-threatening medical emergencies, and the law explicitly excludes treatment for verified ectopic pregnancies. This bill targets the remote provision of abortion drugs, making in-person provider presence mandatory for such procedures.
HR 1349, the Women’s Protection in Telehealth Act, excludes Medicare participation for providers who prescribe, administer, dispense, or furnish abortion-inducing drugs via telehealth unless they meet strict conditions. Specifically, providers must be physicians who physically examine the patient, be present in the same room during drug administration, and schedule an in-person follow-up within 14 days. The bill defines "abortion-inducing drug" as any substance used to terminate a clinically diagnosable pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause fetal death. This directly affects Medicare-covered telehealth abortion services, requiring in-person care for such treatments rather than remote consultations. The exclusion is permanent for non-compliant providers under Medicare rules.
