Amends TCA Title 56.

Present law regulates the practice of telehealth. Present law defines "telehealth" as the use of real-time, interactive audio, video telecommunications or electronic technology, or store-and-forward telemedicine services by a healthcare services provider to deliver healthcare services to a patient within the scope of practice of the healthcare services provider when:<br /> <br /> (1) Such provider is at a qualified site other than the site where the patient is located; and<br /> (2) The patient is at a qualified site, at a school clinic staffed by a healthcare services provider and equipped to engage in the telecommunications described in present law, or at a public elementary or secondary school staffed by a healthcare services provider and equipped to engage in the telecommunications described in present law.<br /> <br /> This bill adds to the places where a patient may be located and receive telehealth services to include the patient's residence and the patient's place of employment, both of which must be equipped to engage in the telecommunications described under present law.<br /> <br /> This bill also adds to the definition of telehealth, remote patient monitoring telemedicine services by a healthcare services provider to a patient within the scope of practice of the healthcare services provider when the provider and patient are at a location as described above. This bill defines "remote patient monitoring telemedicine services" as using digital technologies to collect medical and other forms of health data from a patient and then electronically transmitting that information securely to healthcare providers in a different location for interpretation and recommendation. An example of such services is continuous glucose monitoring. This bill sets out in detail other types of services included in the definition.<br /> <br /> This bill requires a health insurance entity to reimburse healthcare service providers for a telehealth originating site facility fee.<br /> <br /> Present law exempts from the telehealth coverage requirements accident-only, specified disease, hospital indemnity, certain plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, ERISA plans, Medicare supplement, disability income, long-term care, or other limited benefit hospital insurance policies. This bill removes the references to plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 from the exemptions.<br /> <br />