The following is a list of legislative activities for telehealth and telemedicine within the South Central region (AR, MS and TN). A special thanks goes to the Center for Connected Health policy for providing this information. You may visit their webpage by clicking the following link: http://telehealthpolicy.us/laws/pending/state
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Tennessee | HB 660 | 2/19/15: Assigned to s/c Insurance and Banking Subcommittee. | Amends Tennessee Code relative to telemedicine, clarifying that for a health insurance entity to be required to provide coverage for a telehealth encounter, it must involve a licensed health care provider. Similar to SB 725. |
| Tennessee | HB 976 | 3/24/15: Failed in s/c Health Subcommittee. | This bill defines teledentistry and allows initial and subsequent examinations by dentists to be accomplished by means of teledentistry. |
| Tennessee | SB 725 | 3/4/15: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee | Amends Tennessee Code relative to telemedicine, clarifying that for a health insurance entity to be required to provide coverage for a telehealth encounter, it must involve a licensed health care provider. Similar to HB 660. |
| Tennessee | SB 1214 | 3/27/15: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Health and Welfare Committee. | This bill defines teledentistry and allows initial and subsequent examinations by dentists to be accomplished by means of teledentistry. |
| Tennessee | SB 1223 | 4/7/15: Placed on Senate Regular Calendar. | This bill relates to Physicians and Surgeons; establishes requirements and protections for healthcare providers that practice telehealth. |
Approved Legislation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Arkansas | HB 1076 | 4/2/15: Enacted. | This bill would prohibit the use of telemedicine to administer the abortion pill. Similar to SB 53. |
| Arkansas | SB 53 | 2/25/15: Act No. 139 | This bill would prohibit the use of telemedicine to administer the abortion pill. Similar to HB 1076. |
| Arkansas | SB 96 | 2/11/15: Signed by Governor. Act No. 46 | This bill would provide for the Department of Human Services to submit and apply for a federal waiver or authority necessary to transform the Arkansas Medicaid program into a program with maximum state flexibility in the use of the funds for innovative and cost-effective solutions for the provision of health care. Among other things, the solutions through this effort shall aim to sustain and improve optimized use of telemedicine. |
| Arkansas | SB 678 | 3/24/15: Enacted | This bill appropriates funds towards electronic health records and telehealth services grants. |
| Arkansas | SB 133 | 4/1/15: Enacted | This bill would authorize reimbursement and regulation of services provided through telemedicine, among other things. |
| Tennessee | HB 699 | 4/24/15: Signed by Governor. | This bill clarifies certain standards related to a telehealth encounter, including consent, a provider-patient relations, licensing, and the definition of telehealth. |
Pending Regulation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Arkansas | 016.06.14 | 10/3/14: Proposed RuleComment Deadline: 11/4/14 | Title: Outpatient Behavioral Health ServicesAgency: Department of Human Services, Division of Medical ServicesThe proposed regulation would amend the Medicaid manual in regards to reimbursement for outpatient behavioral health telemedicine services. |
| Arkansas | 117.00.14 | 12/16/14: Proposed ruleComment Deadline: 1/21/15 | Title: General ProvisionsAgency: Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and AudiologyEstablishes guidelines for the use of telepractice in speech language pathology and audiology. |
| Mississippi | Part 2405, Ch. 5 | 3/23/15: Proposed ruleComment Deadline: 4/17/15 | Title: Telemedicine PracticeAgency: Board of Medical LicensureProposes rules and regulations regarding the practice of telemedicine, including providing definitions, indicating when a physician-provider relationship is established, requiring MS licensure, and requiring informed consent, among other rules. |
| Mississippi | 30 Admin Code Part 2435, Ch. 5 | 4/20/15: Notice of Public HearingComment Deadline: 5/15/15 | Title: SOS System No. 21111Agency: Board of Medical LicensureThis rule would replace and update rules regarding the practice of telemedicine. |
| Tennessee | TAC 0880-2-.16 | 1/20/15: Proposed RuleComment Deadline: 3/6/15 | Title: Rules Governing the Practice of MedicineAgency: Department of Health, Bureau of Health Licensure and Regulation & Board of Medical ExaminersRevises TN’s rules related to telemedicine licensure and establishes standards for practicing telemedicine and prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine. |
Dead Legisltation
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
| Arkansas | HB 1747 | 4/22/15: Sine die adjournment. | This bill would provide for a definition of telemedicine, and professional practice standards for providers delivering services through telemedicine. It would allow a professional relationship between a licensed health care professional and patient to be established through interactive audio or video technology, among other things. An “emergency clause” is connected to this bill. |
| Arkansas | SB 845 | 4/22/15: Sine die adjournment. | This bill would provide for a definition of telemedicine, and professional practice standards for providers delivering services through telemedicine. It would allow a professional relationship between a licensed health care professional and patient to be established through interactive audio or video technology, among other things. An “emergency clause” is connected to this bill. |
| Arkansas | SB 846 | 4/22/15: Sine die adjournment. | The purpose of this act is to encourage telemedicine. No other details are currently available. |
| Mississippi | HB 114 | 3/3/15: Died in Committee | This bill would establish the Mississippi Rural Hospital Transition and Improvement Grant Program. Under the grant, moneys can be used for (among other things) establishing a telemedicine system. |
| Mississippi | HB 1605 | 2/25/15: Died in committee | This bill would provide an income tax credit to employers who pay costs in connection with a qualified wellness program. A qualified wellness program means a program that consists of at least three specified components. One of these components is a supportive environment which includes access to healthy options at the workplace and policies and services that promote healthy lifestyle behaviors, including policies to (among other things) access on-site and/or telehealth services. |
| Mississippi | SB 2333 | 1/25/15: Died in committee. | This bill would create a tax credit for employers that pay for costs associated with a qualified wellness plan. The plan must consist of at least three components of the following components: a health awareness component, an employee engagement component, behavioral change component, supportive component (which includes access to on-site care and/or telehealth services). |
