PRINTER'S NO. 2520

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 1849 Session of 2007

        INTRODUCED BY COHEN, THOMAS, GEIST, HENNESSEY, BELFANTI, GEORGE,
           JOSEPHS, McGEEHAN, MUNDY AND READSHAW, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending Title 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     2     Statutes, providing for health care coverage for telehealth.

     3     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     4  hereby enacts as follows:
     5     Section 1.  Title 40 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
     6  Statutes is amended by adding a part to read:
     7                              PART IV
     8                        HEALTH CARE COVERAGE
     9  Chapter
    10     71.  (Reserved).
    11     72.  Telehealth.
    12                             CHAPTER 71
    13                             (RESERVED)
    14                             CHAPTER 72
    15                             TELEHEALTH
    16  Sec.
    17  7201.  Definitions.
    18  7202.  Provision of coverage.

     1  § 7201.  Definitions.
     2     The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
     3  shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
     4  context clearly indicates otherwise:
     5     "Health care professional."  An individual who is licensed,
     6  certified or otherwise regulated to provide health care services
     7  under the laws of this Commonwealth.
     8     "Health care services."  Services for the diagnosis,
     9  prevention, treatment, cure or relief of a health condition,
    10  injury, disease or illness.
    11     "Telehealth."  The remote interaction between a health care
    12  professional and a patient through the use of any of the
    13  following:
    14         (1)  A video camera transmission.
    15         (2)  A computer video transmission.
    16         (3)  An electronic health monitoring device.
    17         (4)  Another telecommunications device that delivers
    18     health information concerning a patient to a health care
    19     professional.
    20  § 7202.  Provision of coverage.
    21     An insurer that issues, delivers, executes or renews health
    22  care insurance in this Commonwealth shall provide coverage for
    23  telehealth if a health care professional certifies all of the
    24  following:
    25         (1)  That the use of telehealth is appropriate for the
    26     patient.
    27         (2)  That the health care professional will be able to
    28     maintain proper direct examination of the patient or that
    29     direct examination of the patient is not necessary.
    30         (3)  That the use of telehealth will result in lower
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     1     health care costs than if it were not used.
     2     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.



















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