A health plan offered by a health carrier, a health plan offered to school or state employees and their dependents, a Medicaid managed care plan, and a behavioral health administrative services organization—for covered persons under 18 years of age—must reimburse providers for health care services provided through telemedicine or store and forward technology if:
The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Behavioral health administrative services organizations and managed care organizations shall reimburse a provider for a behavioral health service provided to a covered person through telemedicine or store and forward technology if:
The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This bill recognizes that the phone can be a viable modality of telemedicine. Audio only is very important for chronic disease care and behavioral health. Audio-only telemedicine increases access in rural areas where other forms of telemedicine are a barrier to care. The bill addresses inequities in access to care.
OTHER: A prior in person meeting requirement for audio-only telemedicine is a barrier to care. Audio is equal to other modalities and the only lifeline for many people. The bill should take an equity approach to reimbursement instead of parity.