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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 31, 2015 11:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Insurance Coverage for Telehealth |
| I plan to reintroduce House Bill 491 providing for reimbursement for telehealth services. Telehealth is the use of electronic communication equipment to provide for the delivery of medical services, including the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure or relief of certain health conditions, via approved any telecommunications device that delivers health information concerning a patient to a health care professional. Telehealth has been found to be an effective tool in increasing patient access to providers, improving quality of care, and promoting better communication and coordination among patients and providers, and should also result in lower health care costs. In the past, I have sponsored legislation providing for telehealth coverage for Medical Assistance recipients. I am pleased to state that this legislation is no longer necessary, as the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services began reimbursement for all Medical Assistance providers that utilize telehealth beginning May 23, 2012. This will allow for a larger percentage of the underserved to have current, modern-day technology brought into their community to ensure for a better and more comprehensive delivery of healthcare. Please join me in further expanding telehealth services to the private market by sponsoring the reintroduction of this legislation, which would amend Title 40 (Insurance) to require telehealth coverage by insurance companies. If you have questions, please contact Kathy Seidl in my office at kseidl@pahouse.net or 787-4117. Thank you. Co-sponsors of HB 491 of 2013: CALTAGIRONE, HENNESSEY, D. COSTA, YOUNGBLOOD, MUSTIO, V. BROWN, KORTZ, TRUITT, THOMAS, READSHAW, DELUCA, MCGEEHAN AND PASHINSKI. |
Introduced as HB706