Senate Bill 870, which concerns telemedicine’s role in improving care for chronic health conditions, recently passed the Senate by unanimous vote. Among other things, this bill expands Medicare coverage for telemedicine and gives Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) more scope to use telemedicine.
But not all the action is on the federal level. Minnesota and New Jersey are just two states that have recently passed their own legislation concerning telemedicine.
New Telemedicine Law in Minnesota
On August 1, Minnesota’s new regulations concerning telemedicine became law. It, too, enjoyed bipartisan support in the legislature and passed unanimously. This law, which is written in language plainer than that of most laws, defines telemedicine as “the delivery of healthcare services or consultations while the patient is at an originating site and the licensed healthcare provider is at a distant site.”
It further defines telemedicine as being provided via two-way interactive voice or visual communications, including store-and-forward technology and secure video conferencing. It also allows the use of telemedicine to establish a physician-patient relationship and applies the same standards for conduct and practice as those for medical treatment delivered in person.
Telemedicine Status in New Jersey
New Jersey’s new telemedicine law was signed by Gov. Christie on July 21, having also been passed unanimously. Like the Minnesota law, it allows the use of telemedicine for establishment of a physician-patient relationship, applies the same care standards as in-person visits, and provides for payment and coverage parity for private insurers, Medicaid, and other healthcare plans. The only controversy surrounding this bill had to do with a deadline for establishing doctor-patient relationships using telemedicine (which was eliminated), and concerns by veterinarians as to whether the law applied to them (It doesn’t.).
Other Telemedicine News: Hurricane Season
A severe Atlantic hurricane season has also had an effect on acceptance of telemedicine. After Hurricane Harvey deluged Houston in late August, telemedicine providers opened up lines to receive emergency calls and support hurricane relief workers. In Florida, downloads of Nemours Children’s Health System’s CareConnect telemedicine app spiked during Hurricane Irma, with nearly 3,000 new telemedicine visits between September 8 and 10. Many doctor’s offices were closing because of the storm, and the app offered help for parents dealing with sick kids while also dealing with a hurricane.
Telemedicine Technology Continues to Push Ahead
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