| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health |
|
|
benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth |
|
|
services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
|
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a health benefit plan |
|
|
that provides coverage for telemedicine medical services or |
|
|
telehealth services may not deny payment to a preferred or |
|
|
contracted health professional for a covered claim for a |
|
|
telemedicine medical service or telehealth service based solely on |
|
|
the telecommunications or information technology vendor used by the |
|
|
health professional to deliver the service if the method of |
|
|
communication that the vendor provides complies with Chapter 111, |
|
|
Occupations Code, as applicable. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan |
|
|
that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after |
|
|
January 1, 2020. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |