SCS/HCS/HB 1923 - This act defines "telehealth" or "telemedicine" as the delivery of health care services by means of information and communication technologies which facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient's health care while such patient is at the originating site and the health care provider is at the distant site. Any licensed health care provider shall be authorized to provide telehealth services if such services are within the scope of practice for which the health care provider is licensed and are provided under the same standard of care as services provided in person. Additionally, no originating site shall be required to maintain immediate availability of on-site clinical staff during the telehealth service, unless such is necessary to meet the standard of care for the treatment of the patient's medical condition when the treating physician has not previously met the patient in person, is not at the originating site, and is not providing coverage for a health care provider with an established relationship with the patient. Additionally, physicians practicing telemedicine shall ensure that a properly established physician-patient relationship, as described in this act, exists with the person receiving telemedicine services. Health care providers shall be prohibited from prescribing drugs, controlled substances, or any other treatment to a patient based solely upon an evaluation over the telephone unless a valid physician-patient relationship exists, or based solely on an Internet request or an Internet questionnaire.
This act specifies the licensed MO HealthNet providers who shall be considered eligible health care providers for the provision of telehealth services for MO HealthNet participants. Additionally, this act specifies the originating sites where a MO HealthNet participant may receive telehealth services.
This act addresses the use of asynchronous store-and-forward technology in the practice of telehealth services for MO HealthNet participants. "Asynchronous store-and-forward" is defined in the act as the transfer of a patient's clinically important digital samples, such as still images, videos, audio, and text files, and relevant data from an originating site through the use of a camera or similar recording device that stores digital samples that are forwarded via telecommunication to a distant site for consultation by a consulting provider without requiring the simultaneous presence of the patient and the patient's treating provider. The Department of Social Services, in consultation with the Departments of Mental Health and Health and Senior Services, shall promulgate rules governing the use of asynchronous store-and-forward technology in the practice of telehealth in MO HealthNet. The act also specifies reimbursement for certain asynchronous store-and-forward services for the treating provider and the consulting provider.
This act establishes the "Telehealth Services Advisory Committee" to advise the Department of Social Services and to propose rules relating to telehealth services through asynchronous store-and-forward technology. The act specifies the committee members, appointments, and other terms.
This act establishes a statewide home telemonitoring program for the MO HealthNet program. Home telemonitoring services are health care services that require scheduled remote monitoring of data related to a patient's health. The act specifies the individuals for whom home telemonitoring services may be made available. If the Department of Social Services determines that home telemonitoring is not cost effective, the Department may discontinue the program and stop providing reimbursement through MO HealthNet for such services.
This act has an emergency clause for a certain provision.
Provisions of this act are substantially similar to provisions in SB 579 (2016), HCS/SS/SB 621 (2016), and HCS/SCS/SB 230 (2015).
SARAH HASKINS