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). Please Note: CCHP has a pending legislation/regulation web page located at the following link: http://cchpca.org/state-laws-and-reimbursement-policies
LEGISLATION
Pending Legislation
State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
Tennessee | HB 1747 | 2/28/18: On Health Subcommittee calendar for 3/7 | Adds trained and licensed education personnel to those persons who may staff telehealth services at a school site. |
Tennessee | HB 2091 | 2/28/18: Taken off notice for calendar in House Health Sub Committee | Relates to Healthcare Liability; requires the commissioner of health to study and report on recommendations for legislation concerning telehealth and telemedicine under existing statutes to the health committee of the house of representatives and the Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate by January 15, 2019.
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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. |
Tennessee | SB 2032 | 2/1/18: Referred to Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor. | Relates to Healthcare Liability; requires the commissioner of health to study and report on recommendations for legislation concerning telehealth and telemedicine under existing statutes to the health committee of the house of representatives and the Health and Welfare Committee of the Senate by January 15, 2019.
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Tennessee | SB 2410/HB 2419 | 2/28/18: Taken off calendar for Local Government Subcommittee | The comptroller of the Treasury shall study the feasibility of establishing an enterprise zone pilot project in the Orange Mound community in Shelby County. The pilot project would provide incentives for independent senior living facilities that would support independence for seniors by enabling them to receive telehealth services at home, and it would provide incentives to businesses and other entities that increase access to fresh produce and other health food for residents of the enterprise zone pilot project. The comptroller shall report findings, along with any recommendations, to the members of the general assembly no later than January 15, 2019. |
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. |
Dead Legislation
State | Bill # | Status | Summary |
Mississippi | HB 1130 | 1/30/18: Died in committee | 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 | 1/30/18: Died in 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 | 2/27/18: Died in committee. | Authorizes telemedicine providers to provide treatment of substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment. |
Mississippi | SB 2904 | 1/30/18: Died in committee | 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.
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REGULATION
Pending Regulation
State | Reg. Citation | Status | Summary |
Mississippi | Part 2635, Chapter 5, Rule 5.7
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12/11/17: Proposed rule
Comment Deadline: 12/5/18 |
Title: Telemedicine
Agency: 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
State | Reg. Citation | Status | Summary |
Arkansas | 016.06.17
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9/20/17: Rule adoption
Effective: 9/30/17 |
Title: Provider-Led Arkansas Shared Savings Entities
Agency: 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
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12/19/17: Adopted
Effective: 12/29/17 |
Title: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Agency: Board of Nursing Amends rules regarding advanced practice registered nurse. Creates telemedicine standards for the profession. |
Tennessee | TAC 0800-2-17-.1-.25
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11/27/17: Rule Adopted
Effective: 2/25/18 |
Title: Rules for Medical Payments
Agency: 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. |