SB78 Summary: Telehealth

• Allows licensed behavior analysts, professional counselors, marital and family therapists, psychologists, and psychological associates to provide telehealth services to patients/clients in Alaska without in-person visits if they are licensed and in good standing in another jurisdiction.

• Permits physicians, podiatrists, osteopaths, and nurses to provide treatment, diagnosis, and prescriptions (excluding controlled substances) through telehealth without first conducting an in-person physical examination if licensed in good standing in another jurisdiction and services are within their authorized scope of practice.

• Requires all telehealth providers to advise patients when services exceed their scope of practice, recommend contacting an appropriate provider, terminate the encounter, and may not charge for services provided during such encounters.

• Mandates that all fees charged for telehealth services must be reasonable and may not exceed ordinary fees typically charged for the same service provided in-person.