Posted: | December 4, 2020 03:03 PM |
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From: | Representative Christina D. Sappey |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Ensuring Telemedicine Access for Pennsylvanians |
It is abundantly clear that telehealth and telemedicine services are vital components for improving population health and patient outcomes. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made the advantages of telemedicine even more evident, as it is now a lifeline for providing health services to patients, especially in rural parts of our state, while promoting public health practices that mitigate the spread of infectious disease. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that do not require insurers to cover telemedicine services. This leaves Pennsylvanians unfairly exposed to the possibility that they may not be able to access timely and quality health care when they are sick, or that their care will cost too much. In order to address this disparity, I am introducing legislation that will provide telemedicine service regulations and require health insurers to provide coverage for such services. It is my hope that you will join me in prioritizing the health and safety of communities throughout Pennsylvania by supporting this bill. |
Introduced as HB642