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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine, |
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teledentistry, and telehealth appointments with an originating |
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site or distant site located outside this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1455.001, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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amending Subdivision (1-a) and adding Subdivisions (1-b) and (1-c) |
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to read as follows: |
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(1-a) "Distant site" means the location where a health |
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professional provides a telemedicine medical service, |
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teledentistry dental service, or telehealth service. |
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(1-b) "Health professional" means: |
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(A) a physician; |
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(B) an individual who is: |
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(i) licensed or certified in this state to |
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perform health care services; and |
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(ii) authorized to assist: |
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(a) a physician in providing |
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telemedicine medical services that are delegated and supervised by |
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the physician; or |
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(b) a dentist in providing |
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teledentistry dental services that are delegated and supervised by |
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the dentist; |
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(C) a licensed or certified health professional |
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acting within the scope of the license or certification who does not |
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perform a telemedicine medical service or a teledentistry dental |
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service; or |
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(D) a dentist. |
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(1-c) "Originating site" means the location where an |
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individual receives a telemedicine medical service, teledentistry |
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dental service, or telehealth service. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) A health benefit plan must provide coverage for a |
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covered health care service or procedure delivered as a |
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telemedicine medical service, teledentistry dental service, or |
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telehealth service with an originating site or distant site located |
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outside this state on the same basis and to the same extent that the |
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plan provides coverage for the service or procedure delivered as a |
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telemedicine medical service, teledentistry dental service, or |
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telehealth service with an originating site and distant site |
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located in this state if: |
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(1) the individual who receives the service resides |
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primarily in this state; and |
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(2) the health professional who provides the service: |
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(A) is licensed or otherwise authorized to |
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provide the service in this state; and |
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(B) has a physical office in this state. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued |
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for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024. A health |
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benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before |
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January 1, 2024, is governed by the law as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |