SubscribeTrending 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:
- Reimbursement requirements
- Professional standards
A CLOSER LOOK
Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking
- Iowa’s Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy amended two rules, Chapter 201, relevant to physical therapists and Chapter 208, relevant to occupational therapists. These rules establish standards for telehealth visits for physical therapy and occupational therapy, permitting the use of audio or video equipment, or both, at the discretion of the licensee. In connection with the adoption of the revised rules, the board noted that the expansion was a response to public comment from ATA Action, the American Telemedicine Associate’s affiliated trade association, which urged the board to expand the modalities that can be used for telehealth appointments in the interest of expanding Iowa patients’ access to affordable, high-quality healthcare.
- Maryland enacted HB 1127, which authorizes certain healthcare providers to provide sexual assault forensic exams conducted through “peer-to-peer telehealth” without charge to victims and makes those services eligible for reimbursement by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB). The peer-to-peer telehealth modality permits the performance of a forensic examination using interactive audio, video, or other telecommunications or electronic technology by a forensic nurse examiner to assist in the performance of a forensic examination when the forensic nurse examiner is in one location and the patient is with a qualified healthcare provider in another location.
- Maryland also enacted HB 1078, which requires Medicaid to provide remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests in certain circumstances.
- South Carolina enacted S 858. This bill adds acute hospital care at home programs as exempt from Certificate of Need review by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control. “Acute hospital care at home” includes the utilization of technology to provide continuous remote patient monitoring and connectivity to the patient.
Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase
Highlights:
- In Colorado, SB 24-054 passed the first chamber. The bill requires all private insurance companies to provide coverage for the treatment of the chronic disease of obesity and the treatment of pre-diabetes, including coverage for intensive behavioral or lifestyle therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved anti-obesity medication. The definition of intensive behavioral or lifestyle therapy includes interventions virtually through telehealth.
- In Michigan, HB 4580 and HB 4213 passed the second chamber. If enacted, HB 4580 would require telemedicine services to be covered under Medicaid if the originating site is an in-home or in-school setting, in addition to any other originating site allowed in the Medicaid provider manual. HB 4213 would also require Medicaid to cover telemedicine services, however, further clarifies the requirements for Medicaid coverage. First, HB 4213 requires Medicaid coverage parity for telehealth services. Additionally, HB 4213 requires coverage of [...]
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