SB 2631 — Health insurance; revise mandated coverage for telemedicine services.

SB2631 (COMMITTEE(As SUBSTITUTE)Passed the Senate) - 2021 Regular Session MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE Regular Session To:

Senator(s) Michel Senate Bill 2631 (COMMITTEE(As SUBSTITUTE)Passed the Senate) AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-9-351, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE DEFINITION OF THE TERM "TELEMEDICINE" AS USED IN THE STATUTE REQUIRING HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR TELEMEDICINE SERVICES;

TO PROVIDEREQUIRE THATHEALTH TELEMEDICINEINSURANCE CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN A PATIENT AND AEMPLOYEE PROVIDERBENEFIT AREPLANS TO BEREIMBURSE COVEREDPROVIDERS TOFOR THETELEMEDICINE SAMESERVICES EXTENTUSING AS THE SERVICESPROPER WOULDMEDICAL BECODES; COVERED IF PROVIDED THROUGH IN-PERSON CONSULTATIONS;

TO PROVIDE THAT REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR COVERED HEALTH CARE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING A TELEMEDICINE ENCOUNTER MUST BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH NEGOTIATIONS IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE HEALTH INSURANCE ENTITY ESTABLISHES REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR COVERED HEALTH CARE SERVICES DELIVERED BY IN-PERSON MEANS;

     ( * * *65)  In a claim for the services provided, the appropriate procedure code for the covered services shall be included with the appropriate modifier indicating interactive communication was used. used. Health insurance and employee benefit plans shall reimburse providers for telemedicine services using the proper medical codes and shall not reduce reimbursement for telemedicine services that are the same as those provided through in-person consultation.

     Health ( * * *76) insurance Theand originatingemployee sitebenefit isplans eligibleshall toreimburse receiveproviders afor facilitytelemedicine fee,services butusing facilitythe feesproper aremedical notcodes.  payableReimbursement toof theexpenses distantfor site. covered Healthhealth insurancecare andservices employeeprovided benefitduring plansa shalltelemedicine notencounter limitmust coveragebe toestablished provider-to-providerthrough consultationsnegotiations only. conducted Telemedicineby consultationsthe betweenhealth ainsurance patiententity andwith athe provider arein to be covered to the same extentmanner as the serviceshealth wouldinsurance beentity coveredestablishes ifreimbursement providedof throughexpenses in-personfor consultations. covered Patientshealth incare aservices patient-to-providerthat consultationare shalldelivered notby bein-person entitledmeans. to receive a facility fee.

     SECTION( * * *76)  2. The Thisoriginating actsite shallis takeeligible effectto andreceive bea infacility forcefee, frombut andfacility afterfees Julyare 1,not 2021,payable andto shallthe standdistant repealedsite. on June 30, 2021.

 Health insurance and employee benefit plans shall not limit coverage to provider-to-provider consultations only.

 Patients in a patient-to-provider consultation shall not be entitled to receive a facility fee.

     SECTION 2.  This act  shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2021.