Bill Summary for H 704 (2013-2014)

Printer-friendly: Click to view

Summary date: 

Apr 10 2013

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 704 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 10, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT DIRECTING THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY THE USE OF TELEMEDICINE IN PROMOTING INCREASED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES, AND PROVIDING FOR MORE EFFICIENT HEALTH CARE DELIVERY; AND PROHIBITING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FROM ADOPTING MEDICAL COVERAGE POLICIES THAT DISCOURAGE THE USE OF TELEMEDICINE UNDER MEDICAID AND HEALTH CHOICE.
Intro. by Brody, Steinburg, Fulghum.

View: All Summaries for BillTracking:

Bill summary

Requires the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services (Committee) to study the use of telemedicine in promoting increased access to health care, reducing health disparities, and providing for more efficient health care delivery. Allows the Committee to consult with interested stakeholders. Specifies issues to be considered in the study, including infrastructure and technology needs to support statewide implementation of telemedicine initiatives and funding sources for telemedicine initiatives. Requires the Committee to report to the General Assembly no later than April 1, 2014.

Prohibits the Department of Health and Human Services from adopting or amending a medical coverage policy for Medicaid or Health Choice that (1) requires prior approval for the delivery of telemedicine services to an eligible recipient unless prior approval is also required for the same health, mental health, or substance abuse services when rendered in a face-to-face encounter or (2) limits an eligible recipient's access to coverage for telemedicine services based on the location of the referring site in relation to the consultant site. Specifies relevant definitions. Effective July 1, 2013, and applies to health care services rendered on or after that date.