HB 679 Summary

• Establishes comprehensive telehealth framework allowing physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, psychologists, occupational/physical therapists, counselors, and other health care professionals to provide services via synchronous or asynchronous technology.

• Requires health benefit plans to cover telehealth services on same basis as in-person services with equal cost-sharing limits and prohibits exclusion solely because service is telehealth.

• Creates "teledentistry" provisions allowing dentists to examine patients using digital scans and two-way video, with bona fide patient relationships established through electronic examination if patient examined in prior six months.

• Prohibits charging facility fees, origination fees, or equipment costs to health plans for telehealth services, though practitioners may charge for durable medical equipment at patient site.

• Requires mental health providers and medicaid practitioners using telehealth to establish security protocols, obtain patient consent, maintain equipment standards, and comply with state and federal privacy laws.