CT HB06472

Effective July 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Social Services shall provide Medicaid coverage for telehealth services for two years through June 30, 2023, including audio-only services when clinically appropriate or when patients lack technology, equipment, or Internet access for video.

Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth services shall be equal to in-person service reimbursement, and the commissioner cannot impose higher patient cost sharing, more stringent prior authorization requirements, or location-based coverage restrictions.

The commissioner cannot prohibit physician-patient relationships from being established via telehealth, prohibit verbal patient consent during telehealth visits, or limit coverage to existing patients only.

Data transmission, storage, and dissemination related to telehealth services must comply with all federal and state privacy, security, confidentiality, and safeguarding laws and regulations.

By February 1, 2023, the commissioner must report to relevant legislative committees on whether telehealth expansion increased health care access for Medicaid beneficiaries, regional impacts, cost savings for transportation and related services, and recommendations regarding permanent expansion of telehealth services.