SB 960 Summary

• Expands Medi-Cal telehealth coverage to include reproductive health care provided by store and forward (asynchronous transmission of medical information reviewed later by a physician, nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, licensed midwife, physician assistant, or registered nurse).

• Requires Medi-Cal managed care plans to cover reproductive health care provided by store and forward, and requires patients to be notified of their right to request interactive communication with the distant provider within 30 days of receiving consultation results.

• Establishes telephonic and electronic patient management services as a covered benefit under Medi-Cal for both fee-for-service and managed care delivery systems, provided by physicians or licensed nonphysician health care providers acting within their scope of practice.

• Prohibits separate reimbursement for telephonic or electronic visits that are related to prior/subsequent services, provided as part of a bundled service, or not initiated by the patient or their authorized representative.

• Authorizes the Department of Health Care Services to seek federal approvals and state plan amendments necessary to implement these telehealth provisions.