Telehealth trends focus on state legal and regulatory developments impacting health care providers, telemedicine and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that provide and facilitate virtual care.
Trends over the past week:
- interstate highway compact
- Scope of implementation
- Medicaid reimbursement
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Enactment of final laws and regulations
- arkansas A final rule was passed providing Medicaid coverage for ambulance telehealth triage services. Specifically, if an ambulance service is coordinating the beneficiary's care through telemedicine with a physician for medical complaints or a behavioral health professional for behavioral issues, the ambulance service may triage the beneficiary. They may be transported to another destination or treated on the spot. -Based complaints.
Proposal-level legislation and rulemaking activities
highlight:
- florida In light of recent legislative changes regarding telemedicine, we proposed regulations to clarify supervisory experience requirements for psychological boards.
- iowa We proposed a proposed rule to clarify scope of practice for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, including record-keeping, standards of ethical practice, and the use of telehealth visits.
- nevada It proposed rules that would define the scope of practice and licensing requirements for social workers and clarify when they can provide services via telehealth to clients outside of Nevada.
- south carolina Advance H 4159 in the 2nd House to enact the South Carolina Telemedicine and Telehealth Modernization Act. The bill defines necessary terms and establishes requirements for certain regulated health care professionals who provide health care using telehealth. Amends the definition of the Medical Practice Act to define “telemedicine.” It also amends laws related to the practice of telemedicine to revise the requirements for the practice of telemedicine and include provisions regarding telemedicine.
- south dakota HB 1015 advanced in the Second House and adopted the Social Work Licensing Agreement.
- Utah SB 24 progressed in the first chamber. The bill would clarify the scope of work for physician assistants and include telepsychiatric services.
Why it's important:
- States continue to advance legislation to clarify the use of telemedicine within the scope of practice for health care professionals.. This week, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, and Utah proposed rules or advanced legislation that would clarify that the scope of practice for multiple health care providers includes the use of telemedicine.
