Demonstration projects to improve the delivery of maternal health care through telehealth

(a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall award grants to States to conduct demonstration projects under this section that are designed to expand the use of telehealth in State Medicaid programs for the delivery of health care to eligible pregnant or postpartum women. (b) Eligible pregnant or postpartum woman defined (1) In general In this section, the term eligible pregnant or postpartum woman means a woman who is eligible for and receiving medical assistance under a State Medicaid plan (or waiver of such plan) and who is or becomes pregnant. (2) Postpartum women Such term includes a woman described in paragraph (1) through the end of the month in which the 365-day period beginning on the last day of the woman's pregnancy ends, without regard to any change in income of the family of which she is a member. (c) Application; selection of States; duration (1) Application (A) In general To conduct a demonstration project under this section, a State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall require. Under the demonstration project, a State may include multiple proposed uses of grant funds, and propose to focus on multiple populations, as otherwise allowable under this section, within a single application. (B) Required information A State application to conduct a demonstration project under this section shall include the following: (i) The population (such as individuals residing in rural or medically underserved areas) that the demonstration project will target. (ii) A description of how the State proposes to use funds awarded under this section to conduct the demonstration project to integrate or increase the integration of telehealth into the State Medicaid program’s existing delivery system for furnishing medical assistance to and improving the health care outcomes of eligible pregnant or postpartum women. (iii) A description of how the State will use funds to address racial or ethnic disparities in access to maternal health services or maternal health outcomes, barriers to care, including in rural or medically underserved communities, other barriers to using telehealth, such as those experienced by individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited English proficiency, and as applicable, barriers to the use of telehealth in tribal communities. (iv) A certification that the application meets the requirements of subparagraph (C). (v) Such other information as the Secretary shall require. (C) Consultation with health care stakeholders Prior to the submission of an application to conduct a demonstration project under this section, a State shall consult with health care systems and providers, health plans (if relevant), consumer organizations and beneficiary advocates, and community-based organizations or other stakeholders in the area that the demonstration project will target to ensure that the proposed project addresses the health care needs of eligible pregnant or postpartum women in such area. (2) Selection of States and duration of projects (A) In general The Secretary shall award grants to States that apply and meet the application requirements to conduct 4-year demonstration projects under this section. A State may request, and the Secretary shall determine the appropriateness of, an application of up to $10,000,000. (B) Selection of projects In selecting a State to conduct a demonstration project under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that the State is aware of the 4-year duration of the project and shall determine the State has satisfied the application requirements. (3) Waiver of statewideness and comparability requirement The Secretary shall waive compliance with section 1902(a)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(1)) (relating to statewideness) and section 1902(a)(10)(B) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(B)) (relating to comparability) to the extent necessary to allow selected States to conduct demonstration projects under this section. (d) Use of grant funds A State may use funds from a grant awarded under this section to connect eligible pregnant or postpartum women to telehealth services delivered via telehealth that are furnished by— (1) primary and maternity care providers; (2) health care specialists; (3) behavioral health providers; and (4) other categories of health care providers identified by the Secretary. (e) Reports (1) State reports Each State that is awarded a grant to conduct a demonstration project under this section shall submit the following reports to the Secretary: (A) Initial report An initial report on the first 18 months during which the demonstration project is conducted, not later than the last day of the 19th month of the demonstration project, as described in subparagraph (B). (B) Final report Not later than 6 months after the date on which the State’s demonstration project ends, a final report that includes the following: (i) The number of eligible pregnant or postpartum women served under the demonstration project. (ii) The activities and services funded under the demonstration project, including the providers that received funds under the demonstration project. (iii) Demographic information about the eligible pregnant or postpartum women served under the demonstration project, if available. (iv) A description of the types of models or programs developed under the demonstration project. (v) How such models or programs impacted access to, and utilization of, telehealth services by eligible pregnant or postpartum women, including a description of how such models or programs addressed racial or ethnic disparities in access or utilization. (vi) Qualitative information on beneficiary experience. (vii) Challenges faced and lessons learned by the State in integrating (or increasing the integration of) telehealth into the delivery system for furnishing medical assistance to eligible pregnant or postpartum women in the areas targeted under the demonstration project. (2) Reports to congress (A) Initial report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress summarizing the information reported by States under paragraph (1)(A). (B) Final report Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to Congress summarizing the information reported by States under paragraph (1)(B).