FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 6061

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: In 2016, the Collaborative for the Advancement of Telemedicine (collaborative) was established. The collaborative is hosted by the University of Washington Telehealth Services and is comprised of one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and representatives from the academic community, hospitals, clinics, and health care providers in primary care and specialty practices, carriers, and other interested parties. The collaborative must develop recommendations to improve reimbursement and access to services, including reviewing the originating site restrictions, provider to provider consultative models, and technologies and models of care not currently reimbursed. The collaborative must identify telemedicine best practices, guidelines, billing requirements, and fraud prevention developed by recognized medical and telemedicine organizations.

In 2018, the Legislature tasked the collaborative with reviewing the concept of telemedicine payment parity and developing recommendations on reimbursing for telemedicine at the same rate as if the provider provided services in person, for the treatment of certain conditions. The collaborative was also tasked with designing a training program to teach health care professionals about telemedicine and proper billing. Beginning January 1, 2020, health care professionals who provide services through telemedicine may complete the telemedicine training designed by the collaborative prior to providing services through telemedicine to patients in Washington State. If a health care professional completes training they must sign and retain an attestation.

Summary: Beginning January 1, 2021, health care professionals who provide clinical services through telemedicine, other than physicians and osteopathic physicians, must complete either:

a telemedicine training made available by the telemedicine collaborative; or
an alternative telemedicine training, which may include training offered by hospitals and other health care facilities, continuing education courses, or trainings developed by a health professional board or commission.

Health care professionals must sign and retain an attestation that they completed either the telemedicine collaborative or alternative telemedicine training.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate	47	1
House	96	0