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Legal / Policy

South Central Legislative/Regulatory Update – February 2018

By February 2, 2018May 4th, 2020No Comments

The following is a list of legislative activities compiled by the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) for telehealth and telemedicine within the South Central region (AR, MS, and TN). CCHP has a pending legislation/regulation webpage located at the following link: http://cchpca.org/state-laws-and-reimbursement-policies.

 

LEGISLATION

Pending Legislation

State Bill # Status Summary
Mississippi HB 1130 1/16/18: Introduced and referred to House Committee on Drug Policy Allows telemedicine providers to provide substance use disorder treatment.
Mississippi HB 1229 1/16/18: To House Committee on Medicaid Authorizes House and Senate Medicaid Committees to hire a third-party consultant to review the Mississippi Medicaid program to improve efficiency and eliminate waste, including the optimization of the use of telemedicine.
Mississippi HB 799 1/11/18: Introduced and referred to Public Health and Human Services Committee Provides that health insurance companies and employee benefit plans may limit telemedicine coverage to health care providers in network with the plan instead of in a telemedicine network approved by the plan; revises the definition of store and forward telemedicine services for the purposes of coverage and reimbursement for those services; revises the criteria for qualifying patients for remote patient monitoring services.
Mississippi SB 2840 1/22/18: Referred to Senate Committee on Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency Authorizes telemedicine providers to provide treatment of substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment.
Mississippi SB 2904 1/22/18: Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare Revises the provision which authorizes health care providers to offer telemedicine services; provides definitions and conditions on providers offering telemedicine services; authorizes the state board of medical licensure to promulgate rules relating to telemedicine with certain exceptions.
Tennessee HB 1747 1/22/18: Introduced Adds trained and licensed education personnel to those persons who may staff telehealth services at a school site.
Tennessee SB 1778 1/25/18: To Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor Adds trained and licensed education personnel to those persons who may staff telehealth services at a school site.

 

 

Carry Over from 2017

State Bill # Status Summary
Tennessee HB 518 4/5/17: Taken off notice of cal. in s/c Health Subcommittee Requires the commissioner of health to study and report on recommendations for legislation concerning telehealth and telemedicine under existing statute.  The recommendations must examine the need for improving the effective use of telemedicine and telehealth among healthcare providers and insurers.
Tennessee SB 601 4/4/17: In Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. Referred to General Subcommittee. Requires the commissioner of health to study and report on recommendations for legislation concerning telehealth and telemedicine under existing statute.  The recommendations must examine the need for improving the effective use of telemedicine and telehealth among healthcare providers and insurers.

 

 

REGULATION

Pending Regulation

State Reg. Citation Status Summary
Mississippi Part 2635, Chapter 5, Rule 5.7 12/11/17: Proposed ruleComment Deadline: 12/5/18 Title: TelemedicineAgency: Board of Medical Licensure

Amends rules to include Level Two Hospital Trauma Centers as it relates to exceptions for requirements for 24 hour coverage.

 

Adopted Regulation

Tennessee TAC 0800-2-17-.1-.25 11/27/17: Rule AdoptedEffective: 2/25/18 Title: Rules for Medical PaymentsAgency: Division of Workers’ Compensation

For telehealth, states that the definitions, licensing and processes for the purpose of these rules shall be the same as adopted by the Tennessee Department of Health.  Reimbursement will be based on the applicable Medicare guidelines and coding for the different service providers.
Arkansas 016.06.17 9/20/17: Rule adoptionEffective: 9/30/17 Title: Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings EntitiesAgency: Division of Medical Services

A new Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity (PASSE) Program policy manual is available for all PASSE providers.  Provides a definition for telemedicine and allows the required face-to-face encounter for care coordinators to take place over telemedicine.
Arkansas 067.00.17 12/19/17: AdoptedEffective: 12/29/17 Title: Advanced Practice Registered NurseAgency: Board of Nursing

Amends rules regarding advanced practice registered nurse.  Creates telemedicine standards for the profession.

About SCTRC

Since 2010, the South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) has been providing telehealth training and technical assistance. We offer a wide variety of services and resources to help develop, maintain, and expand telehealth services. While we strive to help anyone reaching out to us for assistance, we prioritize the needs of those who work with rural and other underserved communities and populations in our region — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The SCTRC offers in-person and virtual assistance including on-site demos at our regional telehealth training centers, and popular online resources here such as billing and reimbursement guides, beginner courses, a variety of webinars and recordings, podcasts, and more. The SCTRC team is eager to hear more about your efforts and to brainstorm how we could work together to expand telehealth adoption.

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The SCTRC is staffed by telehealth professionals with backgrounds in nursing, business, education & instructional design, and mass media/communications.

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The SCTRC also works with a dedicated group of professionals who comprise the SCTRC Advisory Council. This group provides a grassroots voice for the telehealth initiatives needed in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

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The South Central Telehealth Resource Center is made possible by Grant #U1UTH42528 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS, and the support of the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. Please note: This information, content, and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. The information and tools presented on the SCTRC website should not be considered legal advice. The SCTRC is not guaranteeing that any information provided will result in reimbursement from a payer. All materials are strictly for informational and educational purposes. The SCTRC encourages you to check with the appropriate state agency for further information and direction for legal opinions, interpretation of the laws, regulations, and/or policies. Additionally, please consult with your legal counsel or attorney if seeking legal opinions. © 2024 Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. All Rights Reserved.