South Central Legislative/Regulatory October 2014 Update
Please Note: CCHP has a pending legislation/regulation webpage located at the following link: http://cchpca.org/laws/pending/state
LEGISLATION
Approved Legislation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Mississippi
|
SB 2015 | 3/17/14: Approved by Governor | This bill gives the State Board of Health the authority to promulgate rules and regulations and to collect data and information on the delivery of services through the practice of telemedicine; and the use of electronic records for the delivery of telemedicine services. |
| Mississippi | SB 2646 | 7/24/14: Chaptered. | This bill would require health insurance plans to provide coverage and reimbursement for store and forward telemedicine services and remote patient monitoring services. Store and forward would be required to be covered to the same extent as they would reimburse for in person services, subject to certain criteria (see bill text). The bill also defines “store and forward telemedicine services” and “remote patient monitoring services.” A health insurance plan is defined as including health benefit plans offered by health insurers, state and school employee health insurance plans and any other public health care assistance programs. |
| Tennessee | HB 1895 | 4/16/14: Chaptered | This bill would define telehealth, and require a health insurance carrier to provide coverage under a health insurance policy for covered health care services delivered through telehealth, to the same extent as policies that the benefit plan permits for in-person encounters. A health insurance carrier includes (among others) managed care organizations participating in the medical assistance program. |
| Tennessee | SB 2050 | 4/21/14: Chaptered | This bill requires a health insurance carrier to reimburse for services provided through telehealth. A health insurance carrier includes (among others) managed care organizations participating in the medical assistance program. |
Legislature Adjourned without Passing
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Mississippi | HB 578 | 2/13/14 Died on calendar. | This bill would require health insurance plans to provide coverage and reimbursement for store and forward telemedicine services and remote patient monitoring services to the same extent as they would reimburse for in person services. The bill also defines “store and forward telemedicine services” and “remote patient monitoring services.” A health insurance plan is defined as including health benefit plans offered by health insurers, state and school employee health insurance plans and any other public health care assistance program. |
| Mississippi | HB 396 | 3/4/14: Died in Committee | This bill gives the State Board of Health the authority to promulgate rules and regulations and to collect data and information on the delivery of services through the practice of telemedicine; and the use of electronic records for the delivery of telemedicine services. |
| Tennessee | SB 484 | 3/27/13: Assigned to Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor | Requires health insurance policies to cover telemedicine services (similar to TN HB 923). |
| Tennessee | HB 923 | 4/20/13: Taken off Notice in Senate Committee on Insurance & Banking | Requires reimbursement by health insurance policies of telemedicine (similar to TN SB 484). |
REGULATION
Pending Regulation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Tennessee | TAC 0880-2-.16 | 2/11/14: Proposed Rule
Comment Deadline: 3/28/14 |
Title: Telemedicine Licensure
Agency: Board of Medical Examiners Amends rules regarding telemedicine licensure and the electronically-mediated practice of medicine. |
| Arkansas | 016.06.14
|
9/12/14: Proposed
Comment Deadline: 10/14/14 |
Title: Transmittal RSPMI-5-14
Agency: Department of Human Services/Division of Medical Services Amends rules concerning requirements for bordering state telemedicine provision and to specify mental health professionals who are performing a telemedicine service must be Arkansas licensed. |
| Arkansas | 016.06.14 | 10/3/14: Proposed Rule
Comment Deadline: 11/4/14 |
Title: Outpatient Behavioral Health Services
Agency: Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services The proposed regulation would amend the Medicaid manual in regards to reimbursement for outpatient behavioral health telemedicine services. |
Adopted Regulation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Arkansas | 016.06.14
|
6/12/14: Adopted Rule | Title: Rehabilitative Services for Mental Illness (RSPMI)
Agency: Department of Human Services/Division of Medical Services This regulation would include prior authorization information for telemedicine services. |
