Bill > HR8476

This bill, the Telehealth Improvement for Kids Essential Services (TIKES) Act, aims to increase access to telehealth services under the Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue guidance to states on strategies to overcome barriers and expand telehealth access, including through technical assistance and best practices. It also directs the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to study the impact of telehealth on healthcare access, utilization, costs, and outcomes, and requires the Government Accountability Office to evaluate federal interagency collaboration in providing telehealth services to individuals under 18, including in early care and education settings. The goal is to promote the use of telehealth to improve healthcare access and outcomes for children enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.