Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 267 First Substitute (2024GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Hawkins, J.

Final action

House/ filed 3/1/2024

Outcome

Failed / filed without passage

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• requires a health benefit plan to reimburse a provider for certain telemedicine services at the same rate the plan reimburses the provider for the same services delivered in-person; and
• makes technical corrections.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

TELEMEDICINE AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Jon Hawkins
Senate Sponsor: 
____________
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends provisions relating to reimbursement for telemedicine services.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ requires a health benefit plan to reimburse a provider for certain telemedicine
services at the same rate the plan reimburses the provider for the same services
delivered in-person; and
▸ makes technical corrections.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
31A-22-649.5
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 328
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
31A-22-649.5
 is amended to read:
31A-22-649.5.
Insurance parity for telemedicine services -- Method of technology
used.
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Mental health condition" means a mental disorder or a substance-related disorder
that falls under a diagnostic category listed in the [
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
]
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
, as periodically revised.
(b) "Telemedicine services" means the same as that term is defined in Section
26B-4-704
.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 
31A-22-618.5
, a health benefit plan
offered in the individual market, the small group market, or the large group market shall:
(a) provide coverage
, at a minimum,
 for:
(i) telemedicine services that are covered by Medicare; and
(ii) treatment of a mental health condition through telemedicine services if:
(A) the health benefit plan provides coverage for the treatment of the mental health
condition through in-person services; and
(B) the health benefit plan determines treatment of the mental health condition through
telemedicine services meets the appropriate standard of care; [
and
]
(b) reimburse a network provider that provides the telemedicine services described in
Subsection (2)(a) at a negotiated commercially reasonable rate[
.
]
; and
(c) for a health benefit plan entered into or renewed on or after January 1, 2025, if a
network provider delivers health care services at an in-person location in the state, reimburse
telemedicine services that are delivered by the network provider, other than for telemedicine
services that are specifically included as part of a contracted arrangement that shares risk or
bundles payment, at a rate that is:
(i) for services for treatment of a mental health condition, the same rate that is
contracted with the network provider for the same health care services that are delivered
in-person; or
(ii) for services other than for treatment of a mental health condition, at least 90% of
the rate that is paid to the network provider for the same health care services that are delivered
in-person.
(3) (a) Notwithstanding Section 
31A-45-303
, a health benefit plan providing coverage
under Subsection (2)(a) may not impose originating site restrictions, geographic restrictions, or
distance-based restrictions.
(b) A network provider that provides the telemedicine services described in Subsection
(2)(a) may utilize any synchronous audiovisual technology for the telemedicine services that is
compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
Section 2. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.