“Telehealth Trends” focuses on state legislative and regulatory developments that impact healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies involved in delivering and facilitating virtual care.
Past week trends:
Remote Optometry Supervisor Naturopathic Doctor
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Final legislation and rulemaking:
In Michigan, the Governor signed SB 747 with a line-item veto. The spending bill allocates funds from the Behavioral Health Initiative to nonprofit organizations to, among other things, increase the use of telehealth for behavioral health services. The bill also requires behavioral and physical health services provided through managed care or cost-pay programs to reimburse telehealth services at at least the same rate as in-person services.
Proposed Legislative and Rulemaking Activities:
Highlights:
Oklahoma proposed a rule requiring optometrists who practice telehealth to provide services to patients who reside in Oklahoma in accordance with their obligations under the statute and Board rules for in-person consultations, including meeting patient confidentiality under HIPAA. However, the proposed rule clarifies that telehealth consultations may not be used to establish a valid provider-patient relationship for the purpose of prescribing contact lenses or eyeglasses. Oregon adopted a rule amending its definition of supervision of occupational therapists to allow for telehealth supervision. Wisconsin adopted a final rule to license, discipline, and practice naturopathic physicians, also allowing them to practice telehealth.
Why is this important:
States are expanding telehealth to more health professionals. Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin have adopted rules expanding telehealth authorization to a range of health professionals, including optometrists, occupational therapists, and naturopathic physicians. Legislation remains slow heading into summer. As is typical in mid-to-late summer, legislative activity has slowed, including related to telehealth.
Telehealth is an important development in healthcare delivery, but it is complicated by inconsistent regulations.
