Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 24	Senate Author:  Nelson
Effective:  See below	House Sponsor:  King, Susan

            Senate Bill 24 amends the Government Code to require the Health and Human Services Commission to provide for reimbursement under the Medicaid program for an office visit performed through telemedicine or telehealth under certain conditions.  The commission is required to confer with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in developing rules to provide for the allocation of the reimbursement.  The bill also amends provisions of the Government Code to continue until September 1, 2009, a pilot program under which Medicaid reimbursements are paid for medical consultations provided by physicians or other health care professionals using the Internet.

            Provisions of the bill relating to Medicaid reimbursement for office visits provided through telemedicine or telehealth are effective September 1, 2007.  All other provisions of the bill are effective June 15, 2007.