Page 42 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and District of Columbia
P. 42
Center for Connected Health Policy
Florida
Medicaid Program: Florida Medicaid
Program Administrator: Florida Dept. of Children and Families
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southeast Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 1408
Waycross, GA 31501
(888) 138-7210
www.setrc.us
STATE LAW MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“’Telemedicine’ means the practice of medicine by a “Telemedicine” is “the use of telecommunication and
licensed Florida physician or physician assistant where information technology to provide clinical care to
patient care, treatment, or services are provided through individuals at a distance, and to transmit the information
the use of medical information exchanged from one site needed to provide that care.”
to another via electronic communications. Telemedicine
shall not include the provision of health care services Source: FL Dept. of Health, Child Protection Team Program,
only through an audio only telephone, email messages, Policy and Procedure Handbook, p.79 (Jun. 2014).
text messages, facsimile transmission, U.S. Mail or “Telemedicine is the use of medical information
other parcel service, or any combination thereof.” exchanged from one site to another via electronic
communications to improve a patient’s health. Electronic
Source: FL Admin Code 64B8-9.0141 & 64B15-14.0081.
communication means the use of interactive
telecommunications equipment that includes, at a
minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two
way, real time interactive communication between the
patient, and the physician at the distant site.”
Source: FL Dept. of Health, Practitioner Services Coverage and
Limitations Handbook, p.136 (Apr. 2014).
“Telemedicine is the practice of health care using
telecommunication equipment by the treating provider
(at the spoke site) for the provision of approved covered
services by the consulting provider (at the hub site) for
the purpose of evaluation, diagnosis or treatment.”
Source: FL Dept. of Health, Specialized Therapeutic Services
Coverage and Limitations Handbook, p.12 (Mar. 2014) & FL
Community Behavioral Health Services Coverage and Limitations
Handbook, p. 10 (Mar. 2014).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found. Reimbursement is available through Florida Medicaid.
Only physicians can provide and receive reimbursement
for telemedicine services.
A physician, ARNP or PA may initiate a consultation
from the spoke site. The referring practitioner must be
present during the consultation as well as the recipient.
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