(a) It shall be the policy of the state to promote telehealth and mitigate geographic or economic discrimination in the delivery of healthcare telehealth services provided that such services are performed by a healthcare practitioner or professional acting within the scope of practice of such healthcare practitioner or professional.
(b) Definitions. As used in this Act:
- (i) “Telehealth services” means healthcare services delivered by means of real time two-way audio, visual, or other telecommunications or electronic communications, including the application of secure video conferencing or “store and forward” transfer technology to provide or support healthcare delivery, which facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient's healthcare by a healthcare provider practicing within his or her scope of practice as would be practiced in-person with a patient, and legally allowed to practice in this state, while such patient is at an originating site and the healthcare provider is at a distant site, including
- (3) health administration;
- (5) mental health services;
- (6) substance abuse treatment;
- (7) facilitation of self-managed care and caregiver support; and
- (8) remote patient monitoring.
- (ii) “Distant site” means a site in STATE at which a healthcare provider is legally allowed to provide telehealth services.
- (iii) “Originating site” means a site in STATE at which a patient is receiving telehealth services.
- (iv) “Store and forward” means the transmission of a patient's medical information either to or from an originating site or to or from the provider at the distant site, but does not require the patient to be present and is not required to take place in real time.
- (v) "Carrier" means an insurance company, health service corporation, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation, or health maintenance organization authorized to issue health benefits plans in this State.
(c) STATE Medicaid programs shall provide coverage and payment for expenses incurred in the delivery of healthcare through telehealth services. The coverage shall be provided to the same extent as for any other healthcare services.
(d) A carrier that offers a health benefits plan in this STATE shall provide coverage and payment for expenses incurred in the delivery of telehealth services. The coverage shall be provided to the same extent as for any other healthcare services.
(e) No carrier shall exclude a service for coverage or reimbursement solely because the service is provided through telehealth services.
(f) No carrier shall impose any annual or lifetime dollar maximum on coverage for telehealth services other than a maximum that applies to in-person care.
(g) A carrier shall apply the same copayment, coinsurance, or deductible amount to telehealth services and the amount shall not exceed the amount applicable to those services when provided through in-person care.
(h) No carrier may limit a physician’s choice of technological platform for providing telehealth services and shall not require a particular technological platform to receive reimbursement.
(i) No carrier may limit the type of originating or distant site to withhold or reduce coverage or reimbursement.
(j) Telehealth services shall conform to the standard of care applicable to the telehealth service provider’s profession.