MI SB1096

Insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts cannot require face-to-face contact for services appropriately provided through telemedicine, as determined by the insurer or HMO.

Telemedicine services must be provided by a health care professional licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized to practice in the state where the patient is located.

Telemedicine is defined to include use of interactive audio, video, or other telecommunications technology by a health care professional to deliver health care services between distant and originating sites for diagnosis and treatment.

Telemedicine services include both synchronous interactions (real-time interaction between patient and provider) and asynchronous store and forward actions (transmission of patient medical information for review without real-time interaction).

Telemedicine services remain subject to all policy terms and conditions including copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, and approved amounts, and applies to policies and contracts issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2013.