Resolution In Support of Telehealth Modernization Principles

Summary

Health care providers should be allowed to practice to the full extent of their professional training through telehealth. Laws and regulations should allow telehealth innovations such as real-time video consultations, remote patient monitoring, and store-and-forward technology. Telehealth services ought to be available to patients who want to access their healthcare provider if their provider is in another state so long as the provider is fully licensed and trained. Currently, laws prevent this. Certain laws and regulations prevent healthcare workers from helping their patients. There should be no laws or regulations which dictate the settings of telehealth visits, require patients to reimburse telehealth services at a prescribed rate, or add information compliance burdens beyond those required by federal laws such as HIPPA. Laws and regulations should authorize Medicaid and other public health programs to reimburse providers when they deliver telehealth services to program recipients. The enactment and/or repeal of laws and regulations should be consistent with the above principles.

Resolution In Support of Telehealth Modernization Principles

WHEREAS, laws and regulations should allow health care providers to practice the full extent of their professional training and expertise through telehealth;

WHEREAS, laws and regulations should permit health care providers to deliver all forms of telehealth, including real-time video consultations, remote patient monitoring, and store-and-forward technology;

WHEREAS, all health provider types should be free to deliver telehealth services;

WHEREAS, patients should be able to access telehealth services from health care providers licensed, certified, or registered in other states;

WHEREAS, no laws or regulations should dictate the settings patients receive telehealth services in or the settings providers deliver telehealth services from;

WHEREAS, no laws or regulations should require payers to reimburse telehealth services at a prescribed rate.

WHEREAS, no laws or regulations should require a health care provider or assistant to physically supervise or monitor a patient when they receive a telehealth service;

WHEREAS, no regulation should add information compliance burdens beyond those required by federal laws such as HIPPA. Privacy regulations should be focused on preventing consumer injury and avoid dictating overly prescriptive practices that may grow obsolete quickly;

WHEREAS, laws and regulations should authorize Medicaid and other public health programs to reimburse providers when they deliver telehealth services to program recipients;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that (insert state here) supports the enactment and/or repeal of laws and regulations consistent with these principles.