HF 89 — A bill for an act relating to reimbursement rates for health care services for mental health conditions, illnesses, injuries, or diseases provided to covered persons by telehealth, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 294.)

Bill Text

• Introduced View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill mandates that health carriers reimburse telehealth services for mental health conditions at the same rates as in-person services and introduces specific definitions related to telehealth.

• Section 514C.34

  “Covered person” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.

  Defines 'covered person' with reference to another statute.

• Section 514C.34

  “Facility” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.

  Defines 'facility' with reference to another statute.

• Section 514C.34

  “Health carrier” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.

  Defines 'health carrier' with reference to another statute.

• Section 514C.34

  “Telehealth” means the delivery of health care services through the use of real-time interactive audio and video, or other real-time interactive electronic media, regardless of where the health care professional and the covered person are each located. → “Telehealth” means the delivery of health care services through the use of real-time interactive audio and video, or other real-time interactive electronic media, regardless of where the health care professional and the covered person are each located. “Telehealth” does not include the delivery of health care services delivered solely through an audio-only telephone, electronic mail message, or facsimile transmission.

  Clarifies the definition of 'telehealth' to exclude certain forms of communication.

• Section 514C.34

  A health carrier shall reimburse a health care professional and a facility for health care services provided by telehealth to a covered person for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease on the same basis and at the same rate as the health carrier would apply to the same health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease provided in person to a covered person by the health care professional or the facility.

  Requires reimbursement rates for telehealth services to match those for in-person services.

• Section 514C.34

  As a condition of reimbursement pursuant to paragraph 'a', a health carrier shall not require that an additional health care professional be located in the same room as a covered person while health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease are provided via telehealth by another health care professional to the covered person.

  Prohibits requiring an additional healthcare professional to be physically present during telehealth consultations.

• Section 514C.34

  This Act applies to health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease provided by a health care professional or a facility to a covered person by telehealth on or after January 1, 2021.

  Establishes retroactive applicability for the reimbursement mandate starting from January 1, 2021.

Action History

1. March 08, 2021

   Withdrawn.

2. January 27, 2021

   Committee report, recommending passage.

3. January 21, 2021

   Subcommittee recommends passage.

4. January 20, 2021

   Subcommittee Meeting: 01/21/2021 8:00AM RM 103, Sup. Ct. Chamber.

5. January 19, 2021

   Subcommittee: Fry, Sunde and Andrews.

6. January 15, 2021

   Introduced, referred to Human Resources.

Sponsors

• Fry · Primary

Subjects