Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care.
Trending in the past week:
- Interstate compacts
- Reimbursement requirements
- Professional standards
A CLOSER LOOK
Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking:
- In Connecticut, the governor signed HB 5198, which permanently extends COVID-19 era telehealth provisions, originally set to expire at the end of this month. The bill also creates a registration requirement for mental and behavioral health providers who are providing care via telehealth from outside of the state. These providers do need to submit an application for licensure within 60 days of registration. The bill also addresses payment expectations for providers should a patient’s health insurance not cover telehealth services. Certain provisions went into effect immediately upon the governor’s signature, while others go into effect on July 1, 2024, after the existing provision expires.
- Colorado enacted HB 24-1045, which addresses updates to treatment for substance use disorders generally and requires payment parity for telemedicine care of substance use under the state’s Medicaid program. This takes effect 90 days following the final adjournment of the state congress. Colorado also enacted SB 24-034, which expands school-based healthcare, allowing services to be provided via telehealth.
- Illinois amended the Illinois Public Aid Code, through SB 3268, to include funding for the expansion of telehealth services in critical access hospitals with potential funding coming from the Department of Health Services (DHS) to support expansion. This also includes an amendment which states that beginning January 1, 2025, DHS will pay negotiated, agreed upon administrative fees associated with implementing telehealth services for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving Community Integrated Living Arrangement residential services.
- Michigan enacted several telehealth related bills, all taking effect 90 days following the end of the congressional session:
- HB 4131 :This bill updates the state’s private payor laws and requires, among other things, that there be payment parity and that health plans not limit telehealth-delivered services to only be provided via a third-party entity.
- HB 4580: This bill will ensure coverage parity through Medicaid for telehealth services.
- HB 4213: This bill will, among other things, require coverage of telehealth in the Medicaid program, including specifically allowing for audio-only and telehealth to be an eligible encounter for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and rural health clinics (RHCs).
- HB 4579: This bill requires that all health plans cover telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care.
- Nebraska’s enrollment in the Dietician Licensure and Physician Assistant Compacts took effect under LB 1215.
- West Virginia finalized a rule that would expand the definition of Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapist Assistant, to include those enrolled in the Occupational Therapist Compact.
- Wyoming revised rules promulgated by the Medical [...]
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