NC H967

Department of Health and Human Services shall conduct studies and report recommendations by September 1, 2019 on telemedicine reimbursement standards for private health benefit plans, considering other states' standards, specific modalities and areas of care, parity with in-person care, and market competition flexibility.

Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Information Technology shall jointly study and recommend a plan to ensure all North Carolina residents have adequate Internet connectivity for telemedicine, including broadband infrastructure incentives, broadband adoption initiatives, and health care provider connection to the NC HIE Network.

Department of Health and Human Services, consulting with the Institute of Medicine, Medical Board, and Board of Nursing, shall develop recommended performance metrics for assessing telemedicine service quality, examining frameworks from the National Quality Forum and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Department of Health and Human Services shall recommend State licensing standards, credentialing processes, and prescribing standards for telemedicine providers, including a standardized centralized credentialing process and analysis of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.

All reports must be submitted to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services by September 1, 2019, with recommendations on whether measurability assessments per Chapter 143E of the General Statutes should accompany each policy area.