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
- Redemption requirements
- professional standards
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Enactment of final laws and regulations
- mississippi This bill, HB 764, enacts legislation authorizing the State Board of Health to promulgate rules and regulations and collect data and information regarding the provision of telehealth services and the use of electronic records to provide telehealth services. Did.
- Alabama Enacted SB 208, an act to adopt the Social Worker Licensing Agreement.
- of texas The Department of Licensing and Regulation has adopted regulations for speech-language therapists and audiologists, confirming that direct and indirect supervision can be provided through remote monitoring and that in-person supervision is not required. This rule also allows licensees who provide telehealth services to provide proof of license to requesters through the department’s online license search.
Proposal-level legislation and rulemaking activities
highlight:
- in colorado, SB 24-141 passed through two chambers. If enacted, all health care providers who hold a license, certification, registration, or other approval as a health care provider in another state will be eligible to reside in Colorado if they register with the appropriate regulatory agency in Colorado. patients will be able to receive medical services through telemedicine.
- in colorado, SB 24-168 passed through two chambers. This bill would require the Department of Health Policy and Finance to provide reimbursement for the use of telehealth telemonitoring in outpatient services for certain Medicaid members.
- in minnesotaHF 4247 passes through two chambers, which allow transfer care specialists and veterinarians to provide “direct supervision” over the phone.
- in South Carolina, H 5183 passed through two chambers. The bill would allow for the delegation of nursing duties, including the performance of non-clinical duties via telemedicine.
- in tennessee, SB 2368 passed through two chambers. If enacted, this bill would require any policy, certificate, or contract for health insurance coverage under TennCare to also include coverage for telehealth visits for complex rehabilitation techniques.
- connecticut HB 5198 passed the second chamber. If enacted, this bill would make certain temporary expansion requirements for telehealth services permanent.
- Several states saw activity related to interstate compacts.
- Social worker license compact
- in connecticutHB 5197 passed through two chambers.
- in new hampshireSB 318 passed through one chamber.
- in tennesseeSB 2134 passed through two chambers.
- in connecticutHB 5058 passed two chambers establishing the Nurse Licensing Compact.
- in AlabamaSB 207 passed two chambers establishing the Dietitian Licensing Compact.
- in south carolinaS 610 passed two chambers establishing the Counseling Agreement.
- Social worker license compact
Why it’s important:
- States continue to increase activity around licensing agreements for various medical professionals. These states’ efforts demonstrate a desire to reduce the burden of the licensing process and encourage practice in multiple jurisdictions without relinquishing authority over professional licensure. This week, states advanced bills related to interstate compacts for social work, nursing, nutrition, and professional counseling.
- States continue to evaluate reimbursement standards related to the provision of care delivered via telehealth. Colorado SB 24-168 and Tennessee SB 2368 are increasingly focused on facilitating access to telehealth by expanding coverage of telehealth services such as remote monitoring and rehabilitation services It reflects that.
- States continue to amend and clarify their standards of professional practice regarding telehealth. States continue to adopt and revise standards governing the practice of telemedicine across various health care professions. For example, Colorado’s SB 24-141 allows out-of-state providers to provide telehealth services to in-state patients as long as the provider is properly registered with state regulators. Bills and regulations in Minnesota, South Carolina, and Texas demonstrate increased flexibility to allow remote monitoring and delegation of tasks via telemedicine across a variety of health care professions.
