Telehealth trends focus on state legal and regulatory developments impacting healthcare providers, telemedicine and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that provide and facilitate virtual care.
Trends over the past week:
- interstate highway compact
- Professional standards and licenses
- Redemption requirements and payment parity
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Enactment of final laws and regulations
- of nevada The Board of Physical Therapy has adopted a final rule permitting physical therapists to utilize telemedicine in accordance with the provisions of the Nevada General Telemedicine Act (Rev. Stat. 629.515).
- nebraska Enacted LB 932, an act to adopt the Social Worker Licensing Agreement.
Proposal-level legislation and rulemaking activities
highlight:
- in illinois, HB 5087 passed the First Chamber. This bill would allow physical therapy through telehealth services to address issues of access to care, enhance the delivery of care, and the ability of physical therapists to assess and direct a patient's performance in the patient's own environment. It is specified that it can be used to increase Additionally, a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant working under the general supervision of a physical therapist may, under certain conditions, provide telemedicine services in accordance with the terms and uses defined in the Telemedicine Act and the Illinois Insurance Law. It also provides that physical therapy can be provided through the service.
- in tennessee, SB 1862 and mirroring HB 1863 passed through the second chamber. This bill would adopt the Dietitian Licensing Agreement.
- in minnesota, SF 4399 passed through the second chamber. This bill would provide that, subject to federal approval, substance use disorder services covered by a state's Medicaid program as an in-person service may be provided through telehealth, as defined in Section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b. It is clearly stated. The use of telehealth to provide services must be medically appropriate to the condition and needs of the person receiving the services. Refunds shall be made at the same rates and under the same terms and conditions as applicable for in-person services.
- in OhioThe rules proposed by the Committee on Chemical Dependency Professionals would improve the ethics and professions for certificate holders and licensees supervised by the Chemical Dependency Committee, including Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistants, Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors, and Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselors. It provides guidance on the above practices. When using telemedicine.
Why it's important:
- States continue to amend and clarify their standards of professional practice regarding telehealth. As the delivery of care through virtual modalities increases, specialty boards have adopted standards to govern telehealth practices across multiple health care professions, and are reviewing current technology and practices to ensure consistency across the professions. We are revising existing standards to reflect this. This week we saw a special focus on standards of practice that impact physical therapists and substance use disorder specialists who provide services through telehealth.
- States continue to evaluate reimbursement standards related to the provision of care delivered via telehealth. State initiatives such as Minnesota's bill (highlighted above) would give patients the option of requesting telehealth visits for medically necessary care and would provide the same fees and charges for such visits as usual. Help facilitate access to telemedicine by providing coverage on terms. Otherwise, it applies to in-person services.