Relating to reimbursement rates for health care services provided to covered persons by telehealth, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions

This bill requires health carriers to reimburse health care professionals for health care services provided to covered persons by telehealth on the same basis and at the same rate as the health carrier would apply to the same health care services provided to a covered person by a health care professional in person. Current law excludes health care services delivered through an audio-only telephone from the definition of “telehealth”. The bill includes audio-only telephone in the definition. The bill applies to the third-party payment providers enumerated in the bill. The bill specifies the types of specialized health-related insurance which are not subject to the bill. The commissioner of insurance must adopt rules to administer the requirements of the bill. The bill becomes effective upon enactment and applies retroactively to third-party payment provider contracts, policies, or plans delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2021.