S.F. No. 4565 - Telemedicine Expansion

• Expands the definition of "originating site" for telemedicine to include a patient's home residence, not just health care facilities.

• Modifies the definition of telemedicine to recognize that communications between a licensed health care provider and patient consisting solely or primarily of a telephone conversation constitute telemedicine consultations or services.

• Prohibits health carriers from excluding coverage for services solely because they are provided via telemedicine rather than in-person, and prevents creation of separate telemedicine provider networks that exclude in-person care providers.

• Requires health carriers to reimburse distant site licensed health care providers for telemedicine services at the same rate and basis as in-person services, and prohibits denying or limiting reimbursement based on the delivery method or platform used.

• Allows health carriers to apply the same deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance to telemedicine services as would apply to equivalent in-person services.