“Telehealth” Bill
ALBANY, NY—Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has signed a bill into law as Chapter 550 of the Laws of 2014, which will require insurers and medical assistance for needy persons to provide coverage for the provision of telehealth and telemedicine services.
The bill defines telehealth as delivering health care services by means of information and communications technologies such as telephones and remote patient monitoring devices. Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of clinical health care services “by means of real time two-way electronic audio visual communications, including the application of secure video conferencing.”
Sponsored by Senator Catherine M. Young (R/C/I-Allegany), and Assembly- woman Addie J. Russell (D/WF-Jefferson), this new law will amend subdivision 1 of Section 2 of the public health law to provide definitions for “distant site,” “health care provider,” “originating site,” “telehealth,” and “telemedicine.”
“Distant site” means a site at which a health care provider is located while pro- viding health care services by means of telehealth or telemedicine, unless otherwise de- fined. “Health care provider” is defined as someone licensed and acting within their scope of practice at a lawful entity such as a hospital, home care service agency, or hospice. “Originating site” means the site where a patient is located at the time health care services are provided. The insurers and providers can agree to an alternative site, if it is agreed upon by all parties.
“Telehealth, including telemedicine, can benefit patients, especially rural patients, hampered by economic or geographic restrictions, in many ways,” said Senator Young. “Due to significant quality and fiscal improvements, patients see fewer hospitalizations and costly visits to emergency rooms, expanded access to providers, faster, more convenient and timely treatment, better continuity and coordination of care, reduction of lost work time and travel costs, and the ability to remain within support networks and age in place at home.”
The law went into effect on January 1, 2015, applying to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered and amended on or after this date.
