HB 1272 Summary

• Requires Hawaii's Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service programs to cover telehealth services at parity with in-person services.

• Mandates coverage for psychiatric services delivered remotely by a licensed psychiatrist working with a behavioral health care manager physically present in the primary care provider's office.

• Defines "behavioral health care manager" as a nurse, social worker, licensed counselor, or psychologist who coordinates care, provides psychotherapy, and manages mental health referrals within the clinic.

• Eliminates geographic restrictions and originating site requirements for telehealth coverage, allowing services to be delivered from various locations including patients' homes, schools, workplaces, and other non-medical environments.

• Requires telehealth reimbursement to equal face-to-face service reimbursement and mandates compliance with federal and state privacy and confidentiality laws.