AN ACT

 

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

3The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4hereby enacts as follows:

5Section 1. Title 40 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
6Statutes is amended by adding a part to read:

7PART IV

8HEALTH CARE COVERAGE

9Chapter

1071. (Reserved)

1172. Telehealth

12CHAPTER 71

13(RESERVED)

14CHAPTER 72

15TELEHEALTH

16Sec.

177201. Definitions.

17202. Provision of coverage.

2§ 7201. Definitions.

3The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
4shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
5context clearly indicates otherwise:

6"Health care professional." An individual who is licensed, 
7certified or otherwise regulated to provide health care services 
8under the laws of this Commonwealth.

9"Health care services." Services for the diagnosis, 
10prevention, treatment, cure or relief of a health condition, 
11injury, disease or illness.

12"Telehealth." The remote interaction between a health care 
13professional and a patient through the use of any of the 
14following:

15(1) A video camera transmission.

16(2) A computer video transmission.

17(3) An electronic health monitoring device.

18(4) Another telecommunications device that delivers
19health information concerning a patient to a health care
20professional.

21§ 7202. Provision of coverage.

22An insurer that issues, delivers, executes or renews health
23care insurance in this Commonwealth shall provide coverage for
24telehealth if the health care professional agrees to all of the
25following:

26(1) The use of telehealth is appropriate for the
27patient.

28(2) The health care professional will be able to
29maintain proper direct examination of the patient or direct
30examination of the patient is not necessary.

1(3) The use of telehealth is expected to result in lower
2health care costs than if it were not used.

3Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.