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Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 57
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to health
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to rates of reimbursement for telehealth services
In Assembly Committee · Insurance · Sponsor Addie Jenne
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law and the insurance law, in relation to rates of reimbursement for telehealth services
Purpose
To ensure telehealth services, especially those that operate in rural areas of New York State where there are healthcare provider shortages, are not disincentivized.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the public health law so that insurers shall reimburse a telehealth provider for covered services via telehealth on the same basis and rate as for services that are not delivered via telehealth.
Section 2 amends the insurance law so that an insurer shall reimburse a telehealth provider for covered services via telehealth on the same basis and rate as for services that are not delivered via telehealth.
Section 3 amends the insurance law so that a corporation shall reimburse a telehealth provider for covered services via telehealth on the same basis and rate as for services that are not delivered via telehealth
Section 4 amends the public health law so that a health maintenance organization shall reimburse a telehealth provider for covered services via telehealth on the same basis and rate as for services that are not delivered via telehealth
Section 5 provides the effective date.
Justification
Although telehealth services have expanded greatly in New York State, ambiguity in the current law has allowed certain insurance companies to interpret a legal obligation to coverage parity exclusively without payment parity. This has resulted in a situation that disincentivizes specialty providers from working to expand telehealth services in parts of the state that need it most. Requiring both coverage and payment parity is a common sense fix to this issue.
Legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all policies and contracts issued, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after January 1, 2016.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.