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 Number | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 016.06.17 | 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 | 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 | 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 upon the applicable Medicare guidelines and coding for the different service providers. |
Dead Legislation/Session Ended
| State | Bill Number | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 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. |
| Tennessee | SB 2410/HB 2419 | 3/27/18: Assigned to General Subcommittee of Local Government Committee | 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. |
| Tennessee | HB 518 | 3/21/18: Taken off notice for 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 | 3/20/18: Deferred to Summer Study. | 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 | HB 1747 | 3/14/18: Taken off notice for cal in s/c Health Subcommittee | Adds trained and licensed education personnel to those persons who may staff telehealth services at school site. |
| Tennessee | SB 1778 | 3/12/18: In Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor: Referred to General Subcommittee | Adds trained and licensed education personnel to those persons who may staff telehealth services at a school site. |
| Tennessee | SB 2032 | 3/13/18: In Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor: Referred to General Subcommittee | 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. |
| 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. |
REGULATION
Pending Regulation
| State | Regulation Citation | Status | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | 016.06.18-003 | 4/6/18: Proposed Comment Deadline: 5/8/18 | Title: Telemedicine Services Agency: Division of Medical Services Amends rules to include Telemedicine general policy. |
| Mississippi | Part 2635, Chapter 5, Rule 5.7 | 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. |
| Mississippi | Title 23, Part 225, Ch. 1, Rule 1.2, .5 | 5/1/18: Proposed Comment Deadline: 5/26/18 | Title: General Provider Information; Reimbursement Agency: Division of Medciaid Revises Mississippi Medicaid’s reimbursement for telehealth delivered services. Amends rule to add Board Certified Behavior Analysts and Board Certified Behavior Analyst-Doctorals as a provider of Autism Spectrum Disorder services to EPSDT-eligible beneficiaries within their scope of practice via telehealth services. Telehealth services will allow EPSDT-eligible beneficiaries easier access to receive ASD services without having to travel to another geographical site. |
Adopted Regulation
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