HB 06562 - Telehealth Bill Summary

• Expands the definition of "telehealth provider" to include 23+ licensed healthcare professions (physicians, nurses, therapists, dentists, pharmacists, etc.) and allows out-of-state providers to deliver telehealth services if they maintain equivalent professional liability insurance.

• Permits audio-only telephone telehealth services only if the provider is in-network or enrolled in Connecticut's medical assistance program, while other telehealth modes (real-time video, store-and-forward, remote monitoring) remain unrestricted.

• Prohibits telehealth providers and hospitals from charging facility fees for telehealth services, whether provided on-campus or remotely.

• Requires telehealth providers to determine patient insurance coverage, accept Medicare reimbursement rates for uninsured patients, and offer financial assistance to patients unable to pay.

• Establishes that health carriers cannot reduce reimbursement to telehealth providers based solely on delivery method being telehealth rather than in-person.

• Allows the Connecticut Department of Social Services discretion to cover audio-only telehealth services under the state's medical assistance program within federal law limits.