The Spring of 2013 was a busy time for telehealth legislation in the South Central region of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. Mississippi was able to lead the pack and pass meaningful telehealth legislation to “require insurance plans to provide coverage for telemedicine (Mississippi Senate Bill 2209).” Tennessee had two bills, both in its Senate and House, die in committee to be carried over to the next session. Arkansas’ House passed a bill defining “telepractice” and “telepractice services.” Perhaps that will be a pre-cursor to more meaningful legislation in the next session.
Here’s a run-down of the activities. Special thanks go out to the Center for Connected Health Policy, which publishes this information for all 50 states at http://telehealthpolicy.us/state-laws-and-reimbursement-policies .
Approved Legislation
Mississippi
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary | Amendments |
| Mississippi | SB 2209 | 4/1/13: Enacted | An act to require insurance plans to provide coverage for telemedicine. (Similar to HB 904) | Includes Medicaid. |
Arkansas
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary | Amendments |
| Arkansas | HB 1172 | 3/1/13: This bill has been enrolled and transmitted to Governor’s Office. HB 1172 is now Act 219 | This bill amends various sections of the law relating to the Board of Examiners in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. It defines “Telepractice” and “Telepractice Services”. |
Session Ended/Chance of Carry over to 2014
Tennessee
| State | Bill # | Status | Summary | Session Status |
| Tennessee | HB 923 | 3/30/13: Taken off Notice in Senate Committee on Insurance & Banking | Requires reimbursement by health insurance policies of telemedicine (similar to TN SB 484) | Session ended – Carry over to 2014 |
| Tennessee | HB 923 | 3/30/13: Taken off Notice in Senate Committee on Insurance & Banking | Requires reimbursement by health insurance policies of telemedicine (similar to TN SB 484) | Session ended – Carry over to 2014 |
| 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) | Session ended – Carry over to 2014 |
| 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) | Session ended – Carry over to 2014 |
| 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) | Session ended – Carry over to 2014 |
