HARRISBURG – A bipartisan bill which would help Pennsylvanians take advantage of new federal Medicaid rules giving patients and clinicians more tele-health options for behavioral health services passed the PA House. Bill sponsor, Chester County Rep. Dan Williams says the longstanding “four walls” requirement has limited Medicaid reimbursement to services within the physical walls of a clinic, which only creates barriers to care, particularly in rural areas and regions with mental health workforce shortages. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services gave states the option to waive the requirement on Jan. 1. In response, the PA Department of Human Services has submitted a State Plan Amendment to adopt the flexibility, which is awaiting federal approval. House Bill 1590 would repeal state regulations that conflict with the new federal flexibility. It would not change existing rules requiring in-person treatment hours for outpatient behavioral health clinics. The bill now moves to the state Senate.
REP. DAN WILLIAMS