FL H0167

Defines "telemedicine services" as synchronous video conferencing, remote patient monitoring, asynchronous health image transmission, or other telecommunications technology used for diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and medical data transfer, excluding audio-only calls, emails, and facsimiles.

Prohibits health insurance policies and Medicaid from requiring face-to-face contact as a prerequisite for coverage or reimbursement of telemedicine services beginning January 1, 2015, treating telemedicine and in-person consultations as equivalent for insurance coverage and payment purposes.

Allows deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance for telemedicine services only if they do not exceed the amounts charged for in-person consultations for the same service.

Permits licensed health care practitioners to employ telemedicine technology under their own practice or under the supervision of another practitioner, clarifying that supervised telemedicine use does not constitute practicing medicine without a license, but requires practitioners to have sufficient training and knowledge.

Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules implementing telemedicine requirements and repeal any rules prohibiting telemedicine use; directs an interagency study on telemedicine implementation for stroke diagnosis, high-risk pregnancies, premature births, mental health services, and emergency services with findings due to the Legislature by July 1, 2015.