Page 13 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and District of Columbia

Center for Connected Health Policy

STATE LAW/REGULATIONS MEDICAID PROGRAM

establish a proper provider-patient relationship p. 773, (Jan. 2015).
between a distant site provider and a patient.
• For new conditions, a patient site presenter
must be reasonably available on site at the
established medical site to assist with the
provision of care. The distant site provider has
discretion to determine if a patient site presenter
is necessary for follow-up evaluation or
treatment of a previously diagnosed condition.
• Tasks may be delegated to the patient site
presenter, if they are qualified.
• A patient site presenter is not required for
mental health services, unless the patient may
be a danger to himself/herself or others.

Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.09

Telehealth Medical Services at a Site other than an
Established Medical Site
A distant site provider who provides telehealth medical
services at a site other than an established medical site
for a patient’s previously diagnosed condition must
either:
• See the patient one time in a face to face visit
before providing telehealth medical care; or
• See the patient without an initial face-to-face
visit, provided the patient has received an in-
person evaluation by another provider who has
referred the patient for additional care, and the
referral is documented in the patient record.

A patient site presenter is not required for a pre-existing
condition previously diagnosed by a provider through a
face-to-face visit or for mental health related services
(unless the patient may be a danger to himself or
others).

A distant site provider may treat an established patient’s
new symptoms which are unrelated to pre-existing
conditions, provided that the patient is advised to see a
provider in a face to face visit within 72 hours. A distant
site provider may not provide continuing telehealth
medical services for these new symptoms to a patient
who is not seen by a provider in a face to face visit
within 72 hours.

Each patient must be seen for an in-person evaluation at
least once a year.

Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.10.
Cross-State Licensing

A distant site provider must have a current and Providers must have an Alabama license.
unrestricted Alabama license.
AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider Manual,
Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.05 p. 528, (Jan. 2015).

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