Several state legislatures are considering bills regarding
reimbursement for telemedicine services. Rhode Island and New
Jersey are both considering legislation to adopt mandated
telehealth parity legislation for the first time. Rhode Island S.B. 2577 would require health insurers to
provide coverage for the cost of health care services provided
through telemedicine, and New Jersey S.B.
1954 would require the same for telemedicine services delivered
to covered persons in a health care facility. Several other state
legislatures are considering bills to expand current telehealth
parity laws. Hawaii S.B. 2395 would remove language requiring a
health care provider to be physically present with the patient at
the originating site during a telehealth encounter to ensure
reimbursement, and it would require all insurers to provide current
and prospective insureds with written disclosure of coverages and
benefits associated with telehealth services. Arizona S.B. 1363, introduced on January 28, would
remove the "rural region" limitation in the telehealth
parity law. Washington S.B. 6519 would add the patient's
"home" to the list of approved originating sites.
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