H.R. 7353 – Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 10:29 AM UTC

The Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2022 changes federal law so that telehealth services provided through employer group health plans are treated as “excepted benefits.” This classification applies under the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the Internal Revenue Code, affecting both group and individual health insurance coverage. It means telehealth benefits are exempt from certain requirements and tax rules that apply to other health benefits. The changes take effect for plan years that start on or after the law is enacted.

Key Provisions

Amends the Public Health Service Act to add a new subparagraph defining “Benefits for telehealth services” as an excepted benefit and adjusts related language to apply the rules to individual health insurance coverage as well.
Updates ERISA to include telehealth benefits in the list of excepted benefits for employer-sponsored retirement and health plans.
Modifies the Internal Revenue Code to treat telehealth benefits as excepted, affecting their tax treatment.
Specifies that the amendments apply to plan years beginning on or after the enactment date.

Legislative Activity

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3 earlier actions

HouseFloor Latest Action

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walberg asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 7353 a bill originally introduced by Representative Walorski, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 20, 2022 • 3:07 PM

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

March 31, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Energy and Commerce Committee

March 31, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

April 1, 2022

HouseFloor

ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP - Mr. Walberg asked unanimous consent that he may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 7353 a bill originally introduced by Representative Walorski, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII. Agreed to without objection.

September 20, 2022 • 3:07 PM

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 7353 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Tim WalbergR-MI-7 · Sep 20, 2022

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 7353, a bill originally introduced by Representative Walorski of Indiana, for the purpose of…

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued March 31, 2022

I

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7353

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 31, 2022

Mrs. Walorski (for herself, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Walberg, Ms. Craig, and Ms. Sherrill) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend title XXVII of the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat benefits for telehealth services offered under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage as excepted benefits.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act of 2022.

2.

Treating benefits for telehealth services offered under a group health plan or group health insurance coverage as excepted benefits

(a)

PHSA

(1)

In general

Section 2791(c)(2) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–91(c)(2)) is amended—

(A)

by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(B)

by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

(C)

Benefits for telehealth services.

.

(2)

Limitation on exception to group health plans and group health insurance coverage

Section 2722(c)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300gg–21(c)(1)) is amended—

(A)

by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;

(B)

by striking The requirements and inserting the following:

(A)

In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the requirements

; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

(B)

Application of provisions in the case of individual health insurance coverage for certain excepted benefits

The requirements of subparts I and II shall apply to any individual health insurance coverage in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 2791(c)(2)(C).

.

(b)

ERISA

Section 733(c)(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1191b(c)(2)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

(C)

Benefits for telehealth services.

.

(c)

IRC

Section 9832(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1)

by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); and

(2)

by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following new subparagraph:

(C)

Benefits for telehealth services.

.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to plan years beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.