State Telehealth Legislation
mHealth Intelligence: (5/7) – Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed telehealth legislation (HB 1196) that would require payers to cover certain audio-only telehealth services, so long as the provider and patient have established a relationship through an in-person exam within the past year. The bill’s primary sponsor, state Rep. Marcus Riccelli, said the bill will help patients in rural and underserved areas whose only reliable option for accessing telehealth is via audio-only services.
mHealth Intelligence: (5/6) – Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signed a major telehealth bill (HB 2454) into law this week, which would greatly expand telehealth services in the state and make permanent several emergency flexibilities enacted at the start of the pandemic. The bill includes several provisions, including that it establishes payment parity for many telehealth services, prevents an in-person exam requirement before a telehealth visit, establishes coverage for audio-only telehealth services in Medicare and Medicaid for 2021, and allows providers licensed and in good standing with their state medical boards to treat patients in Arizona by registering with the applicable state-based regulatory board.
My Record Journal: (5/6) – A bill passed the Connecticut Senate this week that would temporarily extend telehealth services that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic for two more years. Provisions such as requiring insurance coverage for virtual medical appointments, allowing providers licensed in other states to provide telehealth services in Connecticut, and allowing certain providers to conduct virtual visits using audio-only telephone modalities would continue through June 30, 2023. Governor Ned Lamont is expected to sign this bill.
Oklahoma News 4: (5/6) – Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 674 into law, which will ensure payment parity for physicians providing services to patients via telemedicine. The bill, which will help Oklahomans in urban areas and improve access to care for Oklahomans across the state, will go into effect on November 1.
JD Supra: (5/4) – New York State, like many others across the country, quickly pivoted to using telehealth throughout the pandemic. Prior to COVID, New York strictly regulated what services could be delivered via telehealth, which providers could utilize telehealth, and which modalities were permissible. Such policies were loosened to meet the needs of patients during the pandemic, and lawmakers are continuing to consider legislation to expand telehealth moving forward. Recently, the legislature has expanded the list of services that can be delivered via telehealth, removed limitations on originating sites, and is considering legislation addressing reimbursement and permissible modalities for telehealth services.
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