AB 1733 Summary

• Removes conviction of multiple misdemeanors or felonies involving drug/alcohol use from unprofessional conduct standards for licensed professional clinical counselors, and adds violation of patient health records access procedures as unprofessional conduct.

• Prohibits health care service plans and Medi-Cal managed care plans from requiring in-person contact before paying for telehealth services, and extends this requirement to PACE organizations and other publicly supported programs.

• Establishes that health care practitioners providing telehealth services must comply with their profession's practice act regulations and be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement under the state plan.

• Allocates $200 million in bond funds for capital improvements to expand medical education programs emphasizing telehealth technology development at the University of California.

• Clarifies that telehealth medical information becomes part of the patient's medical record and requires compliance with existing health information privacy requirements.