FL S0898

Requires health insurers, corporations, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for telemedicine services (synchronous video conferencing, remote patient monitoring, asynchronous health images, and mobile health transmissions) under individual and group health policies.

Prohibits excluding telemedicine services from coverage solely because services are not provided face-to-face and requires reimbursement for diagnosis, consultation, or treatment on the same basis as in-person care.

Allows deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance for telemedicine services only if they do not exceed amounts applicable to face-to-face services and prohibits annual or lifetime dollar maximums that are not equally imposed on all covered services.

Applies to policies delivered or issued on or after July 1, 2013, with full applicability to all existing policies by July 1, 2014, and extends coverage to Medicaid plans for services that would be covered if provided in-person.

Requires the Department of Health to conduct an interagency study by July 1, 2014, on telemedicine implementation options and coverage for stroke diagnosis, high-risk pregnancies, premature births, and emergency services, with authority to adopt implementing rules.