FINAL BILL REPORT

SB 5387

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background: Telemedicine is the use of interactive audio, video, or electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment of a patient at an originating site. Store and forward technology is the use of an asynchronous transmission of a patient's medical information from an originating site to a provider at a distant site.

An originating site for telemedicine includes a hospital, rural health clinic, federally qualified health center, health care provider's office, community mental health center, skilled nursing center, renal dialysis center, or a home. A facility fee may not be charged for telemedicine services offered to a patient in their home.

When granting or renewing privileges or association of any physician providing telemedicine or store and forward services, an originating site hospital may rely on a distant site hospital's decision to grant or renew clinical privileges or association of the physician if the originating site hospital obtains written assurances that:

the distant site hospital is a Medicare participating hospital;
any physician providing telemedicine or store and forward at the distant site hospital will be fully privileged to provide services by the distant site hospital;
the physician holds and maintains a valid license; and
the originating site hospital has evidence that the physician was internally reviewed by the distant site hospital.

Summary: When granting or renewing credentials and privileges of any physician providing telemedicine or store and forward services, an originating site hospital may rely on a distant site hospital's decision to grant or renew credentials and privileges.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	49	0
House	93	0