State Telehealth Laws
and Reimbursement Policies
A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and the District of Columbia
Center for
Connected
Health Policy
National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
A program of the
Center for Connected Health Policy
February 2013
Center for Connected Health Policy
State Telehealth Laws and Medicaid Program
Introduction
This report offers policymakers, health advocates, health care professionals and others with
an interest in telehealth a summary guide of the most recent information available about
how each of the 50 states (and the District of Columbia) defines, governs, and regulates the
use of “telehealth” or “telemedicine” technologies in the delivery of health care services.
Most remarkable about this report is that every state has its own unique set of telehealth
policies. Some states have incorporated policies into law, while others have addressed
issues such as definition, reimbursement policies, licensure requirements etc. in their
Medicaid Program Guidelines. In some cases we even discovered inconsistencies with
policies within the same state. If we were unable to find information in a particular area, it
has been so noted. Every effort was made to capture the most recent policy language in
each state as of December 2012. All of this information will be uploaded onto our new
website www.telehealthpolicy.us, which will be fully operational in March, 2013. It is our
intent to keep this information continually updated, as laws, regulations and administrative
policies are constantly changing.
How to Use this Report
Telehealth policies have been organized into eleven categories that address the distinct
issues of definition, Medicaid reimbursement by type of service, licensing, and other related
requirements. The first column indicates whether policy has been codified into law and/or
state regulation. The second column indicates whether the policy is defined administratively
within the state’s Medicaid Program. As you will notice, in many instances the specific
policy is found in both law/regulations and administrative policy, but that’s not always the
case. This report primarily addresses the individual state’s policies that govern the use of
telehealth when seeking Medicaid coverage for service. However, we have also included a
specific category that describes whether a state has established any specific policies that
require private insurers to pay for telehealth services.
We hope you find the Report useful and welcome your feedback and questions. You can
direct your inquiries to Mei Kwong, Program Director of the CCHP National Telehealth
Resource Center for Policy at meik@cchpca.org. We would also like to thank our
colleagues with each of the twelve HRSA-funded Regional Telehealth Resource Centers
who contributed to insuring the accuracy of the information in this document. (for further
information go to http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/).
Please keep in mind that this report is for informational purposes only, and is not
intended as a comprehensive statement of the law on this topic, nor to be relied upon
as authoritative.
Mario Gutierrez
Executive Director
February 2013
This project was partially funded by The California Healthcare Foundation and The National Telehealth Policy
Resource Center program is made possible by Grant #G22RH20214 from the Office for the Advancement of
Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and
the District of Columbia:
Findings and Highlights
The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has conducted an analysis of state
telehealth laws and Medicaid reimbursement policies. The District of Columbia was also
included in this scan. The report will be posted electronically on the new CCHP
website, www.telehealthpolicy.us. With the expected on-going annual changes to laws,
policies, and regulations, CCHP will periodically update this information to ensure its
continued relevance. It should be noted that even if a state has enacted telehealth policies
in statute and/or regulation, these policies may not have been incorporated into its Medicaid
program.
Methodology
CCHP examined state law, state administrative codes and Medicaid provider manuals as
the primary resources for the survey. Additionally, where there were indications of other
potential sources, such as releases from a State’s Executive Office, they were also
examined.
The survey focused on eleven specific policy areas related to telehealth. These specific
areas were chosen based upon the frequency they have appeared in discussions and
questions around telehealth reimbursement and laws. It is by no means a comprehensive
list of issues surrounding telehealth but they were deemed the most critical. These areas
are:
• Definition of the term telemedicine/telehealth
• Reimbursement for Live Video
• Reimbursement for Store and Forward
• Reimbursement for Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
• Reimbursement for Email/Phone/FAX
• Consent issues
• Location of service provided
• Reimbursement for transmission/facility fees
• Online Prescribing
• Private payer laws
• Licensure
Key Findings
Remarkably, no two states are alike in how telehealth is defined and regulated. While there
are some similarities in language, (perhaps indicating states may have utilized existing
language from other states), noticeable differences exist. While this is to be expected given
that each state defines its Medicaid policy parameters, it also creates a confusing
environment for telehealth participants, particularly when a health system provides health
care services in multiple states. In some cases, states have duplicated the policies
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governing telehealth in Medicare, while others have developed their own policies for their
Medicaid program.
Some general observations:
Definitions:
States alternate between using the term “telemedicine” or “telehealth”. In some states both
terms are explicitly defined in law and/or policy/regulations. In some states “telehealth” is
used to reflect a broader definition while “telemedicine” is used mainly to define delivery of
medical services. Additionally, some states put specific restrictions within the definition.
Example:
Oklahoma’s Medicaid program has separate definitions for “telehealth” and “telemedicine”.
The definition of “telehealth” explicitly includes “telemedicine” as well as other elements
such as patient teaching and home health, health professional education and “other diverse
aspects of a health care delivery system.”
Oklahoma’s definition of “telemedicine” is narrower, focusing on “the practice of health care
delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the transfer of medical data through
interactive audio, video or data communications that occur in real-time or near real-time and
in the physical presence of the member.”
Further, as this definition of “telemedicine” requires the service to occur in the “physical
presence of the member,” this seems to imply “store and forward” services are not
reimbursable. However Oklahoma’s Medicaid program does reimburse for store and
forward services, but they only reimburse for those services that “under conventional health
care delivery, the medical service does not require face-to-face contact between the
member and the provider” such as teleradiology, telepathology, and fetal monitoring strips.
Oklahoma also states that these services are not considered “telemedicine”.
Reimbursement:
Forty-four states have some form of reimbursement for telehealth in their public program.
The six states that do not are:
• Connecticut
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• Rhode Island
The District of Columbia also currently does not reimburse for telehealth in their public
program.
Again, the sources used were state laws and provider manuals. Some of these states
employ managed care plans in their Medicaid program like New Jersey and Massachusetts.
We did not look into whether those plans may offer some sort of telehealth reimbursement.
Other Key Findings:
•
44 state Medicaid programs only reimburse for Live Video
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•
7 state Medicaid programs offer some reimbursement for Store and Forward (states
that only reimbursed for tele-radiology as store and forward were not included in
this count).
•
10 state Medicaid programs offer reimbursement for Remote Patient Monitoring.
•
3 state Medicaid programs reimburse for all three.
However, we have heard anecdotally that while reimbursement may be authorized by law or
a program exists, it might not actually be utilized. For example, the RPM program in Utah is
a Medicaid skilled nursing facility pilot that appears no one is utilizing. In this Utah pilot
there are very specific qualifications that both the patient and home health agency must
meet. The lack of activity may be due to the requirements to be eligible for the pilot.
Additionally, for RPM, some of the states reimburse through their Department of Aging
Services programs.
Reimbursement
Live Video
The most predominant form of delivery that is reimbursed is live video. As noted, 44 states
reimburse for live video in some way or another. However, what and how it is reimbursed
varies widely. While 44 states have some form of live video reimbursement, there are
restrictions on what can be reimbursed, who can be reimbursed, when they can be
reimbursed and what program is reimbursed.
At one end of the spectrum, there states like California and Colorado whose Medicaid
programs reimburse for the same services regardless of whether they were provided in
person or via telehealth. At the other end of the spectrum Florida only reimburses for a
program called “The Child Protection Team Program” and for specific dental services.
Store and Forward
These services are only defined and reimbursed by a handful of state Medicaid Programs,
while in some states the definition of telehealth/telemedicine excludes these services from
the term itself. Of those states that do reimburse for Store and Forward services, some
have limitations on what will be reimbursed. For example, California only reimburses for
teledermatology and teleopthamalogy.
Email, telephone and fax are rarely acceptable forms of delivery unless they are in
conjunction with some other type of system. States either are silent or explicitly exclude
these forms, sometimes even within the definition of telehealth/telemedicine.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Only seven states have some form of reimbursement for RPM in their Medicaid Health
programs. These states are:
• Alaska
• Colorado
• Kansas
• Minnesota
• New York
• Utah
• Washington
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While three states reimburse through programs in their Department of Aging Services:
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
Note, the states listed are only for RPM in the home where some specific information could
be found. Some states reimburse for home health services but no further details of what
was reimbursed could be found. Additionally, some states may already be reimbursing for
RPM in such areas as Tele-ICU. Those cases were not considered.
Each program appears to have some unique nuances that make it difficult to generalize,
such as the Utah SNF pilot referenced earlier. Another similar example is Colorado, where
the patient needs to be receiving services for at least one of the following: congestive heart
failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma or diabetes and meet other
conditions. In Minnesota, RPM is only available for skilled nursing visits and in the Elderly
Waiver and Alternative Care programs.
Transmission/Facility Fee
Seventeen states will reimburse either a transmission or facility fee or both. Medicare also
reimburses for a facility fee for the originating site provider. It’s likely some of the states
followed Medicare’s example in this area.
Location of Service
A few states have adopted the Medicare policy in which reimbursable services are restricted
to those provided in rural/underserved areas or there are unusual requirements in order to
ensure there is some distance between the patient and distant site provider. For example, in
Texas, the Medicaid patient must be located in a rural or underserved area. Michigan has a
requirement that the distant and originating sites must be at least 50 miles apart from each
other. However, there are some states that do not have these geographical restrictions like
Kansas and California.
Others limit the type of facility that may be an originating or distant site, often excluding the
home as a reimbursable site and impacting RPM.
Consent
Ten states require some sort of informed consent in their statutes (but not in their Medicaid
policies), 6 states require informed consent only in their Medicaid policies (but it is not
required by law) and 4 states (KY, NE, OK & TN) require it in both state law and Medicaid
policy. Thirty states do not mention informed consent in their Medicaid Manual and statutes.
Licensure
Nine states’ medical boards issue special licenses or certificates related in some way to
telehealth. The licenses could allow an out of state provider to render services via
telemedicine in a state they are not located in, or it
allows a clinician to provide services via telehealth into a state if certain conditions are met
(such as agreeing that they will not open an office in that state.) States with such licenses
are:
• Alabama
• Ohio
• Louisiana
• Oregon
• Montana
• Tennessee (both the medical and
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Center for Connected Health Policy
• Nevada
osteopathic boards issue such licenses)
• New Mexico
• Texas
Other states have laws that don’t specifically address telehealth/telemedicine licensing but
make allowances for contiguous states or for certain situations where a temporary license
might be issued, provided the specific state’s licensing conditions are met.
Online Prescribing
There are a number of nuances and differences across the states. However, most consider
using only an Internet/online questionnaire to establish a patient-provider relationship
(needed to write a prescription) is inadequate, though not all states require an in-person
examination.
Private Payers
Sixteen states have laws that impact reimbursement policies of private payers. However,
not all states contain a mandate on private payers. For example, California leaves
reimbursement subject to the policies of the payer, though most payers seem willing to
adopt reimbursement policies. However, like Medicaid programs with Medicare, some
private payers will emulate state Medicaid program and thereby reproduce any limitations
and restrictions that exist in the public program.
Current Legislation
Currently there are 13 states where some form of telehealth legislation is under
consideration. Six and the District of Columbia have introduced private payer bills. The six
states are:
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Mississippi
• New Mexico
• South Carolina
• Washington
Please keep in mind that this report is for informational purposes only, and is not
intended as a comprehensive statement of the law on this topic, nor to be relied upon
as authoritative.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Alabama
Medicaid Program: Alabama Medicaid
Program Administrator: Alabama Medicaid Agency
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southeast Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 1408
Waycross, GA 31501
(888) 138-7210
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
There is no explicit definition of “telemedicine” given in
state Medicaid policy. However, the provider manual
states, “Services must be administered via an interactive
audio and video telecommunications system which
permits two-way communication between the distant site
physician and the origination site where the recipient is
located (this does not include a telephone conversation,
electronic mail message, or facsimile transmission
between the physician, recipient, or a consultation
between two physicians).”
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Alabama Medicaid reimburses for live video for the
following services:
• Consults;
• Office or other outpatient visits;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Psychiatric diagnostic services;
• Neurobehavioral status exams.
However, for some specialties, special conditions or
circumstances must be present for reimbursement to
occur.
For all telemedicine services, an appropriately trained
staff member or employee familiar with the patient or the
treatment plan must be immediately available in person
to the patient.
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
Source: AL Admin. Code r. 560-X-6-.14 (2011).
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Potential conflicting information exists in the Medicaid
provider manual.
The manual cites the use of GQ (the store and forward)
modifier for rehabilitative services but not in the
physician section. However, services are considered to
be telemedicine services only if delivered via an
interactive audio and video communication system.
Note: There is no other reference to this modifier in the
Medicaid provider manual.
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 717, (Oct. 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
Please see “Comments” section below.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for email.
No reference found for email or FAX.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: AL Admin Code r. 560-X-6-.14 (2011).
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
Online Prescribing
Prescribing drugs to an individual the prescriber has not
No reference found.
personally examined is usually inappropriate”. Before
prescribing a drug, the physician should make an
informed medical judgment. Ordinarily, this will require
that the physician personally perform an appropriate
history and physical exam, make a diagnosis, and
formulate a therapeutic plan, which might include a
prescription.
Source: AL Admin. Code r. 540-X-9-.11 (2011).
Consent
No reference found.
A written informed consent is required prior to an initial
telemedicine service.
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 716, (Oct. 2012).
Location
No reference found.
Originating and distant sites must be located in
Alabama.
For rehabilitative services, the originating site must be:
• Physician’s office;
• Hospital;
• Critical Access Hospital;
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Rural Health Clinic;
• Federally Qualified Health Center;
• Community mental health center;
• Public health department.
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 715, (Oct. 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
“A special purpose license allowing practitioners
Providers must have an Alabama license.
licensed in other states to practice across state lines
may be issued.”
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
Source: Code of AL Sec. 34-24-502 - 507 (2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reimbursement for originating site or transmission
fees.
Source: AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider
Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
Miscellaneous
Effective for dates of service 1/16/2012 and thereafter,
all physicians with an Alabama license, enrolled as a
provider with the Alabama Medicaid Agency, regardless
of location, are eligible to participate in the Telemedicine
Program to provide medically necessary telemedicine
services to Alabama Medicaid eligible recipients. In
order to participate in the telemedicine program:
• Physicians must be enrolled with Alabama Medicaid
with a specialty type of 931 (Telemedicine Service)
• Physician must submit the telemedicine Service
Agreement/Certification form
• Physician must obtain prior consent from the recipient
before services are rendered. This will count as part
of each recipient’s benefit limit of 14 annual physician
office visits currently allowed.
Source: Alabama Medicaid Management Information System
Provider Manual, p. 474, (Oct. 2012).
COMMENTS: Alabama’s “Patient 1st” program is a primary care case management (PCCM) program operated by
the Alabama Medicaid Agency. Patient 1st participants with the chronic conditions of Diabetes,
Hypertension, and Congestive Heart Failure may monitor their conditions at home by transmitting
readings of their blood pressure, pulse, glucose (blood sugar) and/or weight by a telephone call into
a secure centralized database.
Source: Alabama Medicaid Agency, Patient 1st.
<
February 5, 2013).
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Alaska
Medicaid Program: Alaska Medicaid
Program Administrator: Alaska Dept. of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Assistance
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the practice of health care
“Telemedicine is identical to a “traditional” health-care
delivery, evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or
visit except it uses a different mode of delivery; with
treatment, using the transfer of medical data through
telemedicine, the health-care provider and the patient
audio, video, or data communications that are engaged
are not in the same physical location. Instead, providers
in over two or more locations between providers who
use telemedicine applications, such as video, audio,
are physically separated from the patient or from each
and/or digitized image transmissions, to link the patient
other.”
and the provider.”
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 12.449 (2012).
Source: State of AK Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Alaska
Medical Assistance Provider Billing Manuals for Ambulatory
Surgical Care Facility, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis,
and Treatment, Hospice Care, Inpatient Psychiatric Services,
Independent Laboratory Services, Appendices.
Live Video Reimbursement
(See Medicaid column)
Alaska’s Medicaid program will reimburse for services
“provided through the use of camera, video, or
dedicated audio conference equipment on a real-time
basis”
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.625(a) (2012).
Eligible services:
• Initial or follow up office visits;
• Consultation made to confirm diagnosis
• A diagnostic, therapeutic or interpretive service
• Psychiatric or substance abuse assessments;
• Individual psychotherapy or pharmacological
management services.
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.625 (2012).
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.630 (2012).
No reimbursement for:
• Home and community-based waiver services;
• Pharmacy;
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Durable medical equipmen;
• Transportation;
• Accommodation services;
• End-stage renal disease;
• Direct-entry midwife;
• Private duty nursing;
• Personal care assistants;
• Visual care, dispensing or optician services;
• Technological equipment and systems
associated with telemedicine application.
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.635 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(See Medicaid column)
Alaska Medicaid will reimburse for services delivered
through store-and-forward.
Source: AK Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., AK Medical
Assistance Provider Billing Manuals, Section1: Physician,
Advance Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant: Services,
Policies and Procedures, p. 24 (Jun. 7, 2012).
To be eligible for payment under store-and-forward the
service must be “provided through the transference of
digital images, sounds, or previously recorded video
from one location to another to allow a consulting
provider to obtain information, analyze it, and report
back to the referring provider.”
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.625(a) (2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
(See Medicaid column)
Alaska Medicaid will reimburse for services delivered
through self-monitoring.
Source: AK Dept of Health and Social Svcs., AK Medical
Assistance Provider Billing Manuals, Section1: Physician,
Advance Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant: Services,
Policies and Procedures, p. 24 (Jun. 7, 2012).
To be eligible for payment under self monitoring or
testing, “the services must be provided by a
telemedicine application based in the recipient’s home,
with the provider only indirectly involved in the provision
of the service.”
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.625(a) (2012).
Email/Phone/FAX
(see Medicaid column)
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: AK Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., AL Medical
Assistance Provider Billing Manuals, Section1: Physician,
Advance Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant: Services,
Policies and Procedures, p. 24 (Jun. 7, 2012).
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Reimbursement for phone, only if part of a dedicated
audio conference system.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: AK Admin Code, Title 7, 110.625 (2012).
Online Prescribing
Physicians are prohibited from prescribing medications
No reference found.
based solely on a patient-supplied history received by
telephone, FAX, or electronic format.
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 12, Sec. 40.967 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
The department will pay only for professional services
for a telemedicine application of service. The
department will not pay for the use of technological
equipment and systems associated with a telemedicine
application to render the service.
Source: AK Admin. Code, Title 7, 110.635(b) (2012).
Miscellaneous
Comments: Alaska and Hawaii are the only two states with Medicare coverage of store and forward services.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Arizona
Medicaid Program: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
Program Administrator: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Administration
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 245105
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-4498
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
Under Arizona Statute, Public Health & Safety,
Telemedicine is “the practice of health care delivery,
"telemedicine means the practice of health care delivery,
diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the transfer
diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the transfer of
of medical data between the originating and distant sites
medical data through interactive audio, video or data
through real time interactive audio, video or data
communications that occur in the physical presence of
communications that occur in the physical presence of
the patient, including audio or video communications
the member.”
sent to a health care provider for diagnostic or treatment
consultation.”
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System .AHCCCS
Medical Policy Manual for AHCCCS Covered Services, Ch. 300, p.
172, Apr. 2012.
Source: AZ Revised Statute Sec. 36-3601 (2012).
Telehealth is “the use of telecommunications and
Under State Administrative Code, Department of
information technology to provide access to health
Insurance, Health Care Services Organizations
assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation,
Oversight, "telemedicine means diagnostic, consultation,
supervision and information across distance.”
and treatment services that occur in the physical
presence of an enrollee on a real-time basis through
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS
interactive audio, video, or data communication.”
Medical Policy for AHCCCS Covered Services, p. 172. Apr. 2012.
Source: AZ Admin. Code Sec. R20-6-1902 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Health Care Service Organizations (HCSO) are allowed,
AHCCCS will reimburse for medically necessary
but not mandated, to provide access to covered services
services provided via live video in their fee for service
through telemedicine, telephone, and email.
program.
Source: AZ Admin. Code Sec. R20-6-1915 (2012)
Eligible services:
• Cardiology;
• Dermatology;
• Endocrinology;
• Hematology/oncology;
• Home Health
• Infectious diseases;
• Neurology;
• Obstetrics/gynecology;
• Oncology/radiation;
• Ophthalmology;
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Orthopedics;
• Pain clinic;
• Pathology;
• Pediatrics and pediatric sub-specialties;
• Radiology;
• Rheumatology;
• Surgery follow-up and consults;
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Fee-
For- Service Provider Manual, Ch. 10: Professional and Technical
Services, p. 39 (Jan. 2013).
Behavioral health services are covered for AHCCS and
KidsCare patients.
Covered behavioral health services:
• Diagnostic consultation and evaluation;
• Psychotropic medication adjustment and
monitoring;
• Individual and family counseling;
• Case management.
The patient’s primary care provider (PCP), attending
physician, other medical professional employed by the
PCP, or an attending physician who is familiar with the
patient’s condition, must be present.
Other medical professionals:
• Registered nurses;
• Licensed practical nurses;
• Clinical nurse specialists;
• Registered nurse midwives;
• Registered nurse practitioners;
• Physician assistants;
• Physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory
therapists;
• Trained telepresenter familiar with the
recipient’s medical condition.
For behavioral health services, the patient’s physician,
case manager, behavioral health professional, or tele-
presenter must be present.
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Fee-
For- Service Provider Manual, Ch. 10: Professional and Technical
Services, p. 40 (Jan. 2013).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
The definition of “telemedicine”, which describes
AHCCCS will reimburse for store-and-forward in their
telemedicine as occurring in the “physical presence” of
fee-for-service program. The same services are
the patient, would exclude store and forward.
covered for store and forward, as for real time.
Source: AZ Admin. Code Sec. R20-6-1902 (2012).
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Real time telemedicine is the only type of
reimbursement available in the field of Behavioral Health
Services.
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Fee-
For- Service Provider Manual, Ch. 10: Professional and Technical
Services, p. 40-1 (Jan. 2013).
In the Services with Special Circumstances program,
AHCCCS only covers for store and forward the
following:
• Dermatology
• Radiology
• Ophthalmology
• Pathology.
Source: Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. AHCCCS
Medical Policy Manual for AHCCCS Covered Services, Ch. 300,
Policy 320 Services With Special Circumstances, p. 174 (Apr.
2012).
The following exceptions may be eligible for
reimbursement by Services with Special Circumstances,
but are not considered a “telemedicine service”:
• A provider in the role of tele-presenter may be
providing a separately billable service, such as
an electrocardiogram or an X-ray. The service is
covered, but not the tele-presenting.
• A consulting distant-site provider may offer a
service that does not require real-time patient
interaction. Reimbursement only for
dermatology, radiology, ophthalmology, and
pathology. and is subject to review by AHCCCS
Medical Management.
• When a patient in a rural area presents within
three hours of onset of stroke symptoms,
AHCCCS will reimburse the consulting
neurologist if the consult is placed for assistance
in determining appropriateness of thrombolytic
therapy even when the patients’ condition is
such that real-time video interaction cannot be
achieved.
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCS
Medical Policy Manual, Medical Policy for AHCCCS Covered
Services, Ch. 300, Policy 320: Services With Special
Circumstances, page 181, (Apr. 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
Home health is listed as a reimbursable service in fee
for service, but no other reference was found or
explanation of what is considered a “home health”
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
service
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Fee-
For- Service Provider Manual, Ch. 10: Professional and Technical
Services, p. 39 (Jan. 2013).
AHCCCS Services With Special Circumstances program
only reimburses for telemedicine delivered via real time,
Home Health is not a covered service under this
program.
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System .AHCCCS
Medical Policy Manual for AHCCCS Covered Services, Ch. 300,
Policy 320 Services With Special Circumstances, p. 173-174 (Apr.
2012).
Email/Phone/FAX
Health Care Service Organizations are allowed, but not
No reference found.
mandated, to provide covered services through
telemedicine, telephone, and email.
Source: AZ Admin. Code Sec. R20-6-1915 (2012).
Online Prescribing
Physicians are prohibited from issuing a prescription to
No reference found.
patients without having a previously established
provider-patient relationship, or first conducting a
physical exam.
Source: Arizona Revised Statute Sec. 32-1401 (2012).
Consent
Providers must obtain and document oral or written
No reference found.
consent before delivery of services. Oral consent
should be documented on the patient’s medical record.
Source: AZ Revised Statute Sec. 36-3602 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
Eligible hub or spoke sites for Indian Health Services or
tribal providers:
• Indian Health Service clinic;
• Tribally-governed facility;
• Urban clinic for American Indians;
• Physician or other provider office;
• Hospital;
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC).
Source: AHCCCS, HIS/638 AHCCCS Telehealth Training Manual,
p. 8.
Fee for service manual definitions:
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Hub site - “the location of the telemedicine consulting
provider, which is considered
the place of service.”
Spoke site - “the location where the recipient is
receiving the telemedicine service.”
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCCS Fee-
For- Service Provider Manual, Ch. 10: Professional and Technical
Services, p. 40 (Jan. 2013).
Cross-State Licensing
An out-of-state doctor may engage in a single or
A consultation by a non-Arizona licensed provider may
infrequent consultation with an Arizona physician.
occur if:
Source: AZ Revised Statute Sec. 32-1421 (2012).
• It is to a specific patient in the AHCCCS
program;
• The provider is registered with AHCCCS;
• The provider is licensed in the state the
consultation is being provided from, or the
provider is employed by an Indian Health
Services, Tribal or Urban Indian Health
program, and appropriately licensed based on
IHS and Tribal facility requirements.
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCS
Medical Policy Manual, Medical Policy for AHCCCS Covered
Services, Ch. 300, Policy 320: Services With Special
Circumstances, page 182, (Apr. 2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Arizona explicitly prohibits the use of telemedicine to
There is reimbursement for non-emergency
provide an abortion.
transportation to and from the telemedicine originating
site.
Source: AZ Revised Statute Sec. 36-3604 (2012).
Source: AZ Health Care Cost Containment System, AHCCS
Medical Policy Manual, Medical Policy for AHCCCS Covered
Services, Ch. 300, Policy 320: Services With Special
Circumstances, page 175, (Mar. 1, 2011).
5
Center for Connected Health Policy
Arkansas
Medicaid Program: Arkansas Medicaid
Program Administrator: Arkansas Department of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
South Central Telehealth Resource Center
4301 W. Markham St. #519
Little Rock, AR 72205
(855) 664-3450
learntelehealth.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means an interactive telecommunications
Arkansas Medicaid defines telemedicine services as
system that: Utilizes information technology, audio,
“medical services performed as electronic transactions
video and other appropriate elements, and is compatible
in real time. In order for a telemedicine encounter to be
with other telemedicine networks; and is used for the
covered by Medicaid, the practitioner and the patient
purpose of enhancing the delivery of medical information
must be able to see and hear each other in real time.”
and health care to medical facilities in rural and urban
areas throughout Arkansas.”
Source: 016 06 06 Code of AR Rules and Regs. (CARR) 024
(2012).
Source: AR Code Annotated Sec. 10-3-1702 (2012)
The Medicaid manual describes telemedicine as,
“Interactive electronic consultations are physician
consultations, “face-to-face” in real time, via two-way
electronic data exchange.”
Source: AR Provider Manual, Section II: Physician/Independent
Labe/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center, p. 30.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Arkansas Medicaid will reimburse for up to two visits per
patient, per year. A benefit extension request may be
approved if it is medically necessary.
Covered visits:
• Consults;
• Fetal echography and echocardiography;
• Non-emergency visits in a physician’s office, a
clinic or a hospital outpatient department;
• Inpatient hospital visits;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)
encounters.
Source: AR Provider Manual, Section II: Physician/Independent
Lab/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center, p. 30.
Source (FQHC only): AR Provider Manual, Section II: Federally
Qualified Health Center, p. 10.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
There is reimbursement for live video for “Telepsych”
services under the Rehabilitative Services for Persons
with Mental Illness (RSPMI) program.
Note: These services are only available when, at a
minimum, the Arkansas Telehealth Network (ATN)
recommended audio video standards for real-time, two-
way interactive audiovisual transmissions are met.
Providers also must be able to link or connect to ATN, to
ensure HIPAA compliance.
Source: AR Provider Manual, Section II: Rehabilitative Services
for Persons with Mental Illnesses, p. 12.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(See Medicaid column)
Arkansas Medicaid defines telemedicine as “Interactive
electronic consultations are physician consultations,
“face-to-face” in real time, via two-way electronic data
exchange.” This would exclude store and forward.
Source: AR Provider Manual, Section II: Physician/Independent
Labe/CRNA/Radiation Therapy Center, p. 30.
However, Arkansas Medicaid policies indicate that
electronic transactions office/ outpatient echography and
echocardiography, X-rays, and other diagnostic
procedures may qualify for Medicaid reimbursement
when the transactions do not take place in real time.
Source: 016 06 Code of AR Rules and Regs. (CARR) 036 (2012) in
“Internet Prescribing Language: State by State Overview,”
Federation of State Medical Boards, January 26, 2012, p. 2-3.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Without a prior and proper patient-provider relationship,
No reference found.
providers are prohibited from issuing prescriptions solely
in response to an Internet questionnaire, an Internet
consult, or a telephone consult.
Source: AR Code Annotated Sec. 17-92-1003 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
Patients must be in a physician’s office or a hospital.
No reference found.
Source: 016 06 Code of AR Rules and Regs. (CARR) 036 (2012).
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Cross-State Licensing
An out of state physician utilizing an electronic medium
No reference found.
who performs an act that is part of a patient care service
that was initiated in Arkansas, including interpretation of
an X-ray, that would affect the diagnosis or treatment, is
engaged in the practice of medicine and subject to
regulation by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
Source: AR Code Revised 17-95-206 (2012)
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
California
Medicaid Program: Medi-Cal
Program Administrator: California Dept. of Health Care Services (DHCS)
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC)
2001 P Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95811
(916) 341-3378 / (877) 590-8144
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telehealth means the mode of delivering health care
No reference found.
services and public health via information and
communication technologies to facilitate the diagnosis,
Note:
consultation, treatment, education, care management,
and self-management of a patient's health care while the
• In 2012, California implemented a
patient is at the originating site and the health care
comprehensive update to its telehealth law;
provider is at a distant site. Telehealth facilitates patient
• However, the State has not yet issued new
self-management and caregiver support for patients and
Medicaid guidelines;
includes synchronous interactions and asynchronous
• Guidelines expected in 2013;
store and forward transfers.”
• All Medi-Cal (CA Medicaid) program information
is from provider manuals based on the old laws.
Source: CA Business & Professions Code Sec. 2290.5 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Private payers may reimburse for live video. (See
Medi-Cal will reimbursement for services provided
“Private Payers” section).
via live video.
Source: CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 1374.13 (2012).
Source: CA Welfare & Institutions Code Sec. 14132.72
(2012). & California Dept. of Health Care Svcs. Medi-Cal
Provider Manual, Medicine: Telemedicine, p. 1 (Oct. 2008).
(also see Medicaid column)
Store and Forward Reimbursement
Private payers may reimburse for store and forward.
Medi-Cal will reimbursement for store and forward
services for tele-dermatology and tele-ophthalmology.
Source: CA Business & Professions Code Sec. 2290.5 (2012).
Source: CA Dept. of Health Care Svcs. Medi-Cal Provider Manual,
(also see Medicaid column)
Medicine: Telemedicine, p. 8 (Oct. 2008) & CA Welfare &
Institutions Code Sec. 14132.725 (2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Providers are prohibited from prescribing or dispensing
No reference found.
dangerous drugs or dangerous devices on the Internet
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
without an appropriate prior examination and medical
indication.
Source: CA Business & Professions Code Sec. 2242.1(a).
Consent
The originating site provider must obtain and document
No reference found.
oral patient consent prior to service delivery.
CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 1374.13 (2012).
Location
Health plans cannot limit the settings where services are
An “originating site” is the location of an eligible recipient
provided. Settings are still subject to contract terms and
at the time service is furnished via telecommunications.
conditions.
Originating sites:
Source: CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 1374.13 (2012).
• Physician or practitioner offices;
• Critical Access Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers.
A “distant site” is the location from where a physician or
practitioner provides professional services via
telecommunications.
Source: CA Dept. of Health Care Svcs. Medi-Cal Provider Manual,
Medicine: Telemedicine, p. 2 (Oct. 2008).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Private payers cannot require that in-person contact
No reference found.
occur before payment is made for covered telehealth
services, subject to contract terms and conditions.
Source: CA Health & Safety Code Sec. 1374.13 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Medi-Cal will reimburse the originating site a facility
fees, and for live video transmission costs.
Source: CA Dept. of Health Care Svcs. Medi-Cal Provider Manual,
Medicine: Telemedicine, p. 8 (Oct. 2008).
Miscellaneous
Comments: The CA Board of Occupational Therapy proposed regulations in August 2012 that would require
occupational therapists providing telehealth services to have a California license, exercise the same
standard of care as with in-person services, obtain oral patient consent, and determine whether an
in-person evaluation or intervention is necessary.
Section 4172. Standards of Practice for Telehealth (proposed regulation).
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Colorado
Medicaid Program: Colorado Medicaid
Program Administrator: Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy and Financing
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 245105
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-4498
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the delivery of medical services
No reference found.
and any diagnosis, consultation, or treatment using
interactive audio, interactive video, or interactive data
communication.”
Source: CO Revised Statutes 12-36-102.5 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Health plans for patients in counties with 150,000 or
Colorado Medicaid will reimburse for medical and
fewer residents cannot require face-to-face contact
mental health services. Services shall be subject to
between a provider and a patient for services that could
reimbursement policies developed by the medical
be appropriately provided through telemedicine, subject
assistance program.
to the terms and conditions of the health benefit plan.
Reimbursement must be the same as in-person
Source: CO Revised Statutes 10-16-123 (2012).
services.
(also see Medicaid column & “Private Payers” section)
Source: CO Revised Statutes 25.5-5-320 (2012).
Colorado Medicaid does not pay for provider or patient
education when education is the only service provided
via telemedicine.
• No enrolled managed care organization may require
face-to-face contact between a provider and a client
for services appropriately provided through
telemedicine if: The client resides in a county with a
population of 150,000 or fewer residents and
• The county has the technology necessary to provide
telemedicine services.
The use of telemedicine is not required when in-person
care by a participating provider is available to an
enrolled client within a reasonable distance.
Source: CO Medical Assistance Program, Telemedicine Manual,
p. 5 (Dec. 2011).
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reimbursement based upon definition of
The CO Medical Assistance Program will only
“telemedicine” which describes telemedicine as
reimburse for “live” telemedicine, excluding store and
“interactive” implying that it happens in real time.
forward. Peripherals, such as transmission of a live
ultrasound exam, may be reimbursed.
Source: CO Revised Statutes 12-36-102.5 (2012).
Source: CO Medical Assistance Program, Telemedicine Manual,
p. 5 (Dec. 2011).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
The CO Medical Assistance Program will reimburse for
Remote Patient Monitoring at a flat fee set by the state
board when all these requirements are met:
• The patient is receiving services from a home
health provider for at least one of the following:
congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, asthma, or diabetes;
• The patient requires monitoring at least five
times weekly to manage the disease, as ordered
by a physician or podiatrist;
• The patient has been hospitalized two or more
times in the last 12 months for conditions related
to the disease;
• The patient or caregiver misses no more than
five monitoring events in a 30-day period;
• The patient’s home has space for all program
equipment and full transmission capability.
Source: (Reimbursement): CO Revised Statutes 25.5-5-321 (2012).
Source: (Requirements): 10 CO Code of Regulation 2505-10.
Additional restrictions apply. See Colorado Code of
Regulations for more information.
Medicaid Home Health will reimburse for services only if
the patient has no other insurance.
Source: 10 CO Code of Regulation 2505-10.
Email/Phone/FAX
Private payers and the managed care system are not
No reimbursement for telephone.
required to cover telephone or FAX services.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: CO Revised Statutes 10-16-123 and Colorado Revised
Source: CO Medical Assistance Program, Telemedicine Manual,
Statutes 25.5-5-414 (2012).
p. 5 (Dec. 2011).
Online Prescribing
Pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing prescription
No reference found.
drugs if they know, or should have known, that it was
on the basis of an internet-based questionnaire,
an Internet-based consult, or a telephone consultation,
all without a valid pre-existing patient-practitioner
relationship.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: 3 CO Code of Regulation 719-1 (2012).
Consent
Providers shall give all first-time patients a written
statement that includes the following:
The Medicaid requirement for face-to-face contact
between provider and client may be waived prior to
• The patient may refuse telemedicine services at
treating the client through telemedicine for the first time.
any time, without loss or withdrawal of
The rendering provider must furnish each client with all
treatment;
of the following written statements which must be signed
• All applicable confidentiality protections shall
by the client or the client’s legal representative:
apply to the services;
• The client retains the option to refuse the delivery of
• The patient shall have access to all medical
health care services via telemedicine at any time
information from the services, under state law.
without affecting the client's right to future care or
treatment and without risking the loss or withdrawal
Source: CO Revised Statutes 25.5-5-320 (2012).
of any program benefits to which the client would
otherwise be entitled.
• All applicable confidentiality protections shall apply
to the services.
• The client shall have access to all medical
information resulting from the telemedicine services
as provided by applicable law for client access to
his or her medical records.
These requirements do not apply in an emergency.
Source: CO Medical Assistance Program, Telemedicine Manual,
p. 6 (Dec. 2011).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensure
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Health plans for patients in counties with 150,000 or
No reference found.
fewer residents cannot require face-to-face contact
between a provider and a patient for services that could
be appropriately provided through telemedicine.
These services are subject to all terms and conditions of
the health plans.
Source: CO Revised Statutes 10-16-123 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
The CO Medical Assistance Program will reimburse for
transmission costs, at a rate set by their state
department.
Source: CO Revised Statutes 25.5-5-320 (2012).
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Comments: Colorado law includes in its definition of “health care services” the rendering of services via
telemedicine.
CO Revised Statutes 10-16-102 (2012).
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
Connecticut
Medicaid Program: Medical Assistance Program
Program Administrator: Connecticut Dept. of Social Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the use of interactive audio,
No reference found.
interactive video or interactive data communication in
the delivery of medical advice, diagnosis, care or
treatment…Telemedicine does not include the use of
facsimile or audio-only telephone.”
Source: CT Public Act No. 12-109 (2012); HB 5483.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
There is no reimbursement for telephone or FAX.
No reference found.
Source: CT Public Act No. 12-109 (2012); HB 5483.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Department of Public Health may establish a process of
No reference found.
accepting an applicant’s license from another state and
may issue that applicant a license to practice medicine
in the state without examination, if certain conditions are
met.
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: CT General Statutes Sec. 20-12 (2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: In 2012, a new law allowed the Commissioner of Social Services to establish a demonstration
project to offer telemedicine as a Medicaid-covered service at Federally Qualified Health Centers.
The Commission is considering design options for a pilot.
Connecticut Public Act No. 12-109 (2012); HB 5483.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
District of Columbia
Medicaid Program: District of Columbia Medicaid
Program Administrator: District of Columbia Dept. of Health Care Finance
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
No reference found.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
Comments: In November 2012, the District’s City Council introduced legislation to mandate coverage of
telemedicine by private payers and Medicaid. The legislation died in committee due to the end of
the council period. The legislation was reintroduced on the first day of their new Council Period,
which began on January 8, 2013.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Delaware
Medicaid Program: Delaware Medical Assistance Program
Program Administrator: Delaware Health and Social Services Dept., Division of Social Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
Recent Policy Developments:
In July 2012, the state Medicaid program began reimbursing for telemedicine services. This decision was made
administratively, with no change in state law.
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine is the use of telecommunication and
information technologies to provide clinical health care
at a distance”.
Source: DE Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Press Release
DHSS-59-2012, (Jun. 27, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
The Delaware Medical Assistance Program will
reimburse for “telemedicine-delivered services.”
Source: DE Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Press Release
DHSS-59-2012, (Jun. 27, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing prescription
No reference found.
drug orders through an Internet pharmacy if the
pharmacist knows that the prescription order was issued
solely on the basis of an Internet consultation or
questionnaire, or medical history form submitted to
an Internet pharmacy through an Internet site.
Source: DE Code, Title 16 Sec. 4744 (2012).
Consent
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Eligible originating sites:
• Hospitals;
• Federally qualified health centers (FQHC);
• Public health clinics;
• Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
(PACE) centers.
Source: DE Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Press Release
DHSS-59-2012, (Jun. 27, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
The originating site will be reimbursed a facility fee for
the telemedicine space and equipment.
Source: DE Dept. of Health and Social Svcs., Press Release
DHSS-59-2012, (Jun. 27, 2012).
Miscellaneous
2
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
STATE LAW
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine” is “the use of telecommunication and
information technology to provide clinical care to
individuals at a distance, and to transmit the information
needed to provide that care.”
Source: FL Dept. of Health, Child Protection Team Program,
Policy and Procedure Handbook, p.27 (Jun. 2009).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Florida Medicaid will reimburse for live video only in
relation to the Child Protection Team Program (see
Comments), and for the following dental services:
• Oral prophylaxis;
• Topical fluoride application;
• Oral hygiene instructions.
All dental services must be delivered by a registered
dental hygienist, with a supervising dentist.
Source (Child Protection Team Program): FL Dept. of Health,
Child Protection Team Program, Policy and Procedure Handbook,
p.27 (Jun. 2009).
Source (dental services): FL Dental Services Coverages and
Limitations Handbook, p. 2-26, (November 2011).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX Restrictions
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Prior to e-prescribing, physicians and physician
No reference found.
assistants must document a patient evaluation,
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW
MEDICAID PROGRAM
including history and physical examination, to establish
the diagnosis for which any drug is prescribed, and
discuss treatment options with the patient.
These rules don’t apply in emergency situations.
Source: FL Admin. Code 64B8-9.014.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: In 1998, the Child Protection Team (CPT) Program implemented a telemedicine network that links
CPT teams with remote or satellite CPT offices, or local facilities, such as hospital emergency rooms,
county health departments, or child advocacy centers, to facilitate telemedicine assessments for
abuse, abandonment, and neglect of children in remote or rural areas.
Only specially trained CPT physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners or physician
assistants can perform these exams. And only specifically trained registered nurses at presenting
sites may participate in the exam.
Florida Department of Health, Child Protection Team Program, Policy and Procedure Handbook, p. 11 (Jun. 2009).
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Georgia
Medicaid Program: Georgia Medicaid
Program Administrator: Georgia Dept. of Community Health
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southeast Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 1408
Waycross, GA 31501
(888) 138-7210
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the practice, by a duly licensed
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information
physician or other health care provider acting within the
exchange from one site to another via electronic
scope of such provider's practice, of health care
communications to improve patients’ health status. It is
delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, or transfer
the use of two-way, real time interactive communication
of medical data by means of audio, video, or data
equipment to exchange the patient information from one
communications which are used during a medical visit
site to another via an electronic communication system.
with a patient or which are used to transfer medical data
This includes audio and video telecommunication
obtained during a medical visit with a patient. Standard
equipment.”
telephone, facsimile transmissions, unsecured e-mail, or
a combination thereof do not constitute telemedicine
“Closely associated with telemedicine is the
services.”
term ’telehealth,’ which is often used to encompass a
broader definition of remote healthcare that does not
Source: Official Code of GA Annotated Sec. 33-24-56.4 (2012).
always involve clinical services. Telehealth is the use of
telecommunication technologies for clinical care
(telemedicine), patient teachings and home health,
health professional education (distance learning),
administrative and program planning, and other diverse
aspects of a health care delivery system.”
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
Telemedicine Handbook, p. 2, (Nov. 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Georgia requires coverage of telemedicine services
Georgia Medicaid will reimburse for live video when the
(which includes live video), subject to contract terms and
service is “medically necessary, the procedure is
conditions. (See “Private Payers” section).
individualized, specific, consistent with symptoms or
confirmed diagnosis of an illness or injury under
Source: GA Rules & Regulations. Sec. 33-24-56.4 (2012).
treatment, and not in excess of the member’s needs.”
Eligible services:
• Office visits;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Limited office psychiatric services;
• Limited radiological services;
• A limited number of other physician fee
schedule services.
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
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Telemedicine Handbook, p. 2-3, (Nov. 2012).
Georgia Medicaid will reimburse for mental health
services for residents in nursing homes via telemedicine
(although not available in all areas of the state).
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, Division of Medical
Assistance, Part II Policies and Procedures for Nursing Facilities,
p. 206 (Oct. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Georgia Medicaid will not reimburse for store and
forward because these services do not include direct,
in-person patient contact.
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
Telemedicine Handbook, p. 4, (Nov. 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for email.
Source: Official Code of GA Annotated Sec. 33-24-56.4 (2012).
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
Telemedicine Handbook, p. 8, (Nov. 2012).
Online Prescribing
Physicians are prohibited from prescribing controlled
No reference found.
substances or dangerous drugs based solely on an
electronic consult.
Source: GA Rules & Regulations revised 360-3-.02 (2012).
Consent
No reference found in statute.
The referring provider must obtain prior written consent.
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
Telemedicine Handbook, p. 5, (Nov. 2012).
Location
No reference found.
Eligible originating sites:
• Provider offices;
• Hospitals;
• Critical Access Hospitals (CAH);
• Rural Health Clinics (RHC);
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC);
• Skilled nursing facilities;
• Community mental health centers;
• GA public health clinics;
• School-based clinics.
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Eligible distant sites:
• Provider offices;
• Hospitals;
• Critical Access Hospitals (CAH);
• Rural Health Clinics (RHC);
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC);
• Skilled nursing facilities;
• Community mental health centers;
• GA public health clinics.
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, GA Medicaid
Telemedicine Handbook, p. 3, (Nov. 2012).
Cross-State Licensure
No reference found.
Providers must have a Georgia license.
Source: GA Dept. of Community Health, Division of Medical
Assistance, Part II Policies and Procedures for Physician
Services, Appendix R p. 139 (Oct. 1, 2012).
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions.
Source: GA Rules & Regulations. Sec. 33-24-56.4 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: Patients who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (known as dual eligibles), will receive
mental health care through Medicare, with Medicaid the payor of last resort. Though not available in
all areas of the state, Medicare-funded mental health services are currently provided to nursing
home residents via telemedicine, face-to-face visits by providers in the nursing home, and nursing
home resident visits to psychiatric/mental health clinics or offices, for those individuals able to travel.
GA Dept. of Community Health, Division of Medical Assistance, Part II Policies and Procedures for Nursing
Facilities, p. 206 (Oct. 1, 2012).
In July 2012, the Georgia Composite Medical Board proposed requiring a physical exam of a patient
before providing telemedicine treatment.
Georgia Medical Board Proposed Regulation. 360-3-.02 Unprofessional Conduct Defined.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Hawaii
Medicaid Program: Hawaii Quest
Program Administrator: Hawaii Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center
Telehealth Research Institute, John A. Burns School of Medicine
651 Ilalo Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 692-1090
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
According to state insurance law, “Telehealth means the
No reference found.
use of telecommunications services, including but not
limited to, real-time video conferencing-based
communication, secure interactive and non-interactive
web-based communication, and secure asynchronous
information exchange, to transmit patient medical
information, including diagnostic-quality digital images
and laboratory results for medical interpretation and
diagnosis, for the purpose of delivering enhanced health
care services and information to parties separated by
distance. Standard telephone contacts, facsimile
transmissions, or email text, in combination or by itself,
does not constitute a telehealth service for the purposes
of this chapter.”
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 (2012).
According to state business law, “Telehealth means the
use of electronic information and telecommunication
technologies to support long-distance clinical health
care, patient and professional health-related education,
public health and health administration, to the extent that
it relates to nursing.”
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 457-2 (2012).
According to state business law, “Telemedicine means
the use of telecommunications services, including real-
time video or web conferencing communication or
secure web-based communication to establish a
physician-patient relationship, to evaluate a patient, or to
treat a patient. ‘Telehealth’ as used in chapters 431,
432, and 432D, includes ‘telemedicine’ in its definition.”
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 453-1.3 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Hawaii requires coverage of telehealth services (which
Hawaii Quest will reimburse for live video, as long as it
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includes live video), subject to contract terms and
“includes audio and video equipment, permitting real-
conditions.
time consultation among the patient, consulting
practitioner and referring practitioner.”
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 (2012).
Source: Code of HI Rules 17-1737 (2012).
(See Medicaid column & “Private Payers” Section)
Store and Forward Reimbursement
Based upon the definition of “telehealth” (which includes
Hawaii Quest requires the patient to be “present and
secure asynchronous information exchange) in the state
participating in the telehealth visit” therefore excluding
insurance law, store and forward may be covered.
store and forward from reimbursement.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 (2012).
Source: Code of HI Rules 17-1737 (2012).
(also see Medicaid column)
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 (2012).
Source: Code of HI Rules 17-1737 (2012).
(also see Medicaid column)
Online Prescribing
Prescribing providers must have a provider-patient
No reference found.
relationship prior to e-prescribing. This includes:
• A face-to-face history and physical exam;
• A diagnosis and therapeutic plan;
• Discussion of diagnosis or treatment with the
patient;
• Availability of appropriate follow-up care.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 329-1 (2012).
Treatment recommendations made via telemedicine are
appropriate for traditional physician-patient settings that
do not include a face-to-face visit, but in which
prescribing is appropriate, including on-call telephone
encounters and encounters for which a follow-up visit is
arranged.
Issuing a prescription based solely on an online
questionnaire is prohibited.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 453-1.3.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
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Location
(see Medicaid column)
Eligible originating sites:
• Hospitals;
• Critical Access Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Federal telehealth demonstration project sites.
In addition, originating sites must be located in one of
the following:
• A federally designated Rural Health
Professional Shortage Area;
• A county outside of a Metropolitan Statistical
Area;
• An entity that participates in a federal
telemedicine demonstration project.
Source: Code of HI Rules 17-1737 (2012).
Cross-State Licensing
Out-of-state radiologists may provide services in Hawaii.
No reference found.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 453-2(b)(6).
Private Payers
Hawaii requires coverage of telehealth services, subject
No reference found.
to contract terms and conditions.
Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: In July 2011, Hawaii began implementing a mobile medical van telehealth pilot project, staffed by
primary care providers, for consults with other health care providers,.
HI Revised Statutes, Div. 1, Title 20, Ch. 346 Note (2012).
Hawaii and Alaska are the only two states with Medicare coverage of store and forward services.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Idaho
Medicaid Program: Idaho Medicaid
Program Administrator: Idaho Dept. of Health and Welfare
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
The Northwestern Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W, Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telehealth is an electronic real-time synchronized
No reference found.
audio-visual contact between a consultant and
participant related to the treatment of the participant.
The consultant and participant interact as if they were
having a face-to-face service.”
Source: ID Administrative Code 16.03.10.681 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Idaho Medicaid will reimburse for a limited number of
mental health services.
Source (authorization): ID MMIS Provider Handbook, Allopathic
and Osteopathic Physicians, p. 28 (Oct. 2012).
Through the Children’s Waiver Services, Idaho Medicaid
will reimburse for crisis intervention consults, or
individual consults by a therapeutic consultant via live
video.
Source (service type): ID Administrative Code 16.03.10.683 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Idaho Medicaid will only reimburse for interactive audio
and video permitting “real-time communication”,
therefore excluding store and forward from coverage.
Source: ID MMIS Provider Handbook, Allopathic and Osteopathic
Physicians, p. 29 (Oct. 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Prescribing physicians must have prescriber-patient
No reference found.
relationship, which includes a documented patient
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evaluation adequate to establish diagnoses and identify
underlying conditions and/or contraindications to the
treatment.
Prescriptions based solely on online questionnaires or
consults outside of an ongoing clinical relationship are
prohibited.
Source: ID Code § 54-1733 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Reimbursement is made at a fixed rate for the facility fee
for site transmission.
Source: ID MMIS Provider Handbook, Allopathic and Osteopathic
Physicians, p. 29 (Oct. 2012).
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Illinois
Medicaid Program: Illinois Medicaid
Program Administrator: Illinois Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Ste. 110
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(855) 283-3734 ext. 232
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
The Medical Practice Act of 1987 defines ‘telemedicine’
“Telemedicine” is the use of a telecommunication
as “the performance of diagnosing patients, prescribing
system to provide medical services for the purpose of
drugs, maintaining a medical office, etc., including but
evaluation and treatment when the patient is at one
not limited to rendering written or oral opinions
medical provider location and the rendering provider is
concerning diagnosis or treatment of a patient in Illinois
at another location.
by a person located outside the State of Illinois as a
result of transmission of individual patient data by
Source: IL Admin. Code, Title 89 ,140.403 (2012).
telephonic, electronic, or other means of communication
“Telehealth is defined as the use of a telecommunication
from within this State.”
system to provide medical services between places of
Source: IL Compiled Statutes, Chapter 225, 60/49.5 (2012).
lesser and greater medical capability and/or expertise,
for the purpose of evaluation and treatment. Medical
The Administrative Code for the Department of
data exchanged can take the form of multiple formats:
Healthcare and Family Services defines ‘telemedicine’
text, graphics, still images, audio and video. The
as “the use of a telecommunication system to provide
information or data exchanged can occur in real time
medical services for the purpose of evaluation and
(synchronous) through interactive video or multimedia
treatment when the patient is at one medical provider
collaborative environments or in near real time
location and the rendering provider is at another
(asynchronous) through “store and forward”
location.”
applications.”
Source: IL Admin. Code, Title 89 ,140.403 (2012).
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
(also see Medicaid column)
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Illinois Medicaid will reimburse for live video under the
following conditions:
• A physician or other licensed health care
professional must be present with the patient at all
times with the patient at the originating site;
• The distant site provider must be a physician,
physician assistant, podiatrist or advanced practice
nurse who is licensed by Illinois or the state where
the patient is located;
• The originating and distant site provider must not
be terminated, suspended or barred from the
Department’s medical programs;
• Medical data may be exchanged through a
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telecommunication system;
• The interactive telecommunication system must, at
a minimum, have the capability of allowing the
consulting distant site provider to examine the
patient sufficiently to allow proper diagnosis of the
involved body system. The system must also be
capable of transmitting clearly audible heart tones
and lung sounds, as well as clear video images of
the patient and any diagnostic tools, such as
radiographs.
An encounter clinic serving as the distant site shall be
reimbursed as follows:
1. If the originating site is another encounter clinic,
the distant site encounter clinic shall receive no
reimbursement from the Department. The
originating site encounter clinic is responsible for
reimbursement to the distant site encounter clinic;
and
2. If the originating site is not an encounter clinic, the
distant site encounter clinic shall be reimbursed for
its medical encounter. The originating site
provider will receive a facility fee.
Source: IL Admin. Code Title 89, 140.403.
Eligible originating site providers include:
• Physicians;
• Podiatrists;
• Local health departments;
• Community mental health centers;
• Outpatient hospitals;
• Encounter Rate Clinics
• Federally Qualified Health Centerse (FQHC);
• Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
Eligible distant site providers include:
• Physicians;
• Podiatrists;
• Advanced practice nurses;
• Encounter Rate Clinics
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC);
• Rural Health Clinics;
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010)
Distant Site providers may not seek reimbursement for
their services when the Originating Site is an encounter
clinic. The Originating Site encounter clinic is
responsible for reimbursement to the Distant Site
provider.
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Nonenrolled providers rendering services as a Distant
Site provider shall not be eligible for reimbursement from
the department, but may be reimbursed by the
Originating Site provider.
Under the department’s telehealth policy, providers will
be paid as either an Originating Site or Distant Site.
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010)
Psychiatric Services
With the exception of group psychotherapy, tele-psychiatry
is covered, if all of the conditions stated above are met.
Tele-psychiatry eligible originating site providers:
• Physician;
• Other licensed healthcare professional or other
licensed clinician;
• Mental health professional;
• Qualified mental health professional
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010)
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Illinois Medicaid will reimburse a provider at a distant site
when they “review the medical case without the patient
being present.”
Source: IL Administrative Code, Title 89 ,140.403 (2012).
The Illinois Medicaid definition encompasses store and
forward. “The information or data exchanged can occur
in real time (synchronous) through interactive video or
multimedia collaborative environments or in near real
time (asynchronous) through “store and forward”
applications.”
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found
Email/Phone/FAX
(see Medicaid column)
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
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Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Services, Handbook for
Practitioners Rendering Medical Services, Chapter A-200, Policy
and Procedures for Medical Services, p. 38 (August 2010) &
Source: IL Administrative Code, Title 89 ,140.403 (2012).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
(see Medicaid column)
Eligible originating site:
• Physician office;
• Podiatrist office;
• Local health departments;
• Community mental health centers;
• Outpatient hospitals;
• Rural health clinics;
• Encounter Rate Clinics
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
Source: IL Dept. of Healthcare and Family Svcs., Expansion of
Telehealth Services, Informational
Notice, http://www.hfs.illinois.gov/html/011210n2.html, (Jan. 12,
2010)
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
For medical services, the provider rendering the service
at the distant site can be a physician, physician
assistant, podiatrist or advanced practice nurse, who is
licensed by the State of Illinois or by the state where the
patient is located.
For psychiatric services, the provider rendering the
service at the distant site must be a physician licensed
by the State of Illinois, or by the state where the patient
is located, who has completed an approved general
psychiatry residency program or a child and adolescent
psychiatry residency program.
Source: IL Handbook for Practitioners Rendering Medical
Services, Chapter A-200, Policy and Procedures for Medical
Services, p. 38 (August 2010).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
There is reimbursement for originating site facility fees.
Eligible facilities include:
• Physician’s office;
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• Podiatrist’s office;
• Local health departments;
• Community mental health centers;
• Outpatient hospitals.
Originating site providers who receive reimbursement for
the patient’s room and board are not eligible for facility
fees.
Source: IL Handbook for Practitioners Rendering Medical
Services, Ch. A-200, Policy and Procedures for Medical Services,
p. 38 (Aug. 2010).
Miscellaneous
5
Center for Connected Health Policy
Indiana
Medicaid Program: Indiana Medicaid
Program Administrator: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Ste. 110
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(855) 283-3734 ext. 232
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine services refer to a specific method of
No reference found.
delivery of certain services, including medical exams
and consultations, which are already reimbursed by
Medicaid. Telemedicine uses videoconferencing
equipment allowing a medical provider to render an
exam or other service to a patient at a distant location.”
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-1 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Indiana Medicaid will reimburse for live video, as long as
certain conditions are met.
The hub site provider must determine if it is medically
necessary for a medical professional to be at the spoke
site.
For a medical professional to receive reimbursement for
professional services in addition to payment for spoke
services, medical necessity must be documented. If it is
medically necessary for a medical professional to be
with the member at the spoke site, the spoke site is
permitted to bill an evaluation and management code in
addition to the fee for spoke services. There must be
documentation in the patient's medical record to support
the need for the provider's presence at the spoke site.
The documentation is subject to post-payment review.
Source (authorization): IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-1 (2012).
Source (hub-spoke provider reimbursement): IN Admin. Code,
Title 405, 5-38-4 (2012) & IN Health Coverage Programs Provider
Manual, Chapter 8, Billing Instructions, p. 136 (May 8, 2012).
Reimbursement for the following:
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Consultations
Office or other outpatient visit
Individual psychotherapy
Psychiatric diagnostic interview
Pharmacologic management
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) services
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p. 137 (May 8, 2012).
No reimbursement for the following:
• Ambulatory surgical centers;
• Outpatient surgical services;
• Home health agencies or services;
• Radiological services;
• Laboratory services;
• Long-term care facilities, including nursing
facilities, intermediate care facilities, or
community residential facilities for the
developmentally disabled;
• Anesthesia services or nurse anesthetist
services;
• Audiological services;
• Chiropractic services;
• Care coordination services;
• Durable medical equipment, medical supplies,
hearing aids, or oxygen;
• Optical or optometric services;
• Podiatric services;
• Services billed by school corporations;
• Physical or speech therapy services;
• Transportation services;
• Services provided under a Medicaid waiver.
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-4 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Indiana Medicaid will not reimburse for store and
forward services.
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-4 (2012).
However, there is reimbursement for store and forward
technology to facilitate other reimbursable services.
Separate reimbursement of the spoke-site payment is
not provided for this technology.
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p 136, (May 8, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Indiana Medicaid considers telemedicine as “not a
telephone transmitter for transtelephonic monitoring.”
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Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-1 (2012).
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found for email.
No reference found for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reference found for FAX.
No reference found for FAX.
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-1 (2012).
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p. 136 (May 8, 2012).
Online Prescribing
A documented patient evaluation, including history and
No reference found.
physical evaluation adequate to establish diagnoses
and identify underlying conditions or contraindications
to the treatment recommended or provided, must be
obtained prior to issuing e-prescriptions.
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 844, 5-3-2 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
The spoke site must obtain patient consent. The
consent must be maintained at the hub and spoke sites.
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p. 138 (May 8, 2012).
Location
The patient must be physically present at the spoke site
There is reimbursement for telemedicine services only
and participate in the visit.
when the hub and spoke sites are greater than 20 miles
apart.
Source: IN Admin. Code, Title 405, 5-38-4 (2012).
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p. 138 (May 8, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
For patients receiving ongoing telemedicine services, a
physician should perform a traditional clinical evaluation
at least once a year, unless otherwise stated in policy.
The hub physician should coordinate with the patient’s
primary care physician.
Source: IN Health Coverage Programs Provider Manual, Chapter
8, Billing Instructions, p. 138 (May 8, 2012).
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Iowa
Medicaid Program: Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME)
Program Administrator: IA Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means use of a telecommunications
No reference found.
system for diagnostic, clinical, consultative, data, and
educational services for the delivery of health care
services or related health care activities by licensed
health care professionals, licensed medical
professionals, and staff who function under the direction
of a physician, a licensed health care professional, or
hospital, for the purpose of developing a
comprehensive, statewide telemedicine network or
education.”
Source: IA Admin. Code, 751 7.1(8D) (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing prescription
No reference found.
drugs if the pharmacist knows or should have known
that the prescription was issued solely on the basis of
an Internet-based questionnaire, an Internet-based
consult, or a telephone consult, and was completed
without a pre-existing patient-provider relationship.
Source: IA Admin. Code, 657 8.19(124,126,155A) (2012).
Consent
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No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: Iowa conducted a pilot program in 1997-2000 to study the cost-effectiveness of providing telehealth
services to Medicaid patients. Few providers participated in the program, and the study found that it
was not cost effective.
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Telemedicine Reimbursement
Report, ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/telehealth/licen.pdf, p. 34 (Oct. 2003).
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Kansas
Medicaid Program: Kansas Medicaid
Program Administrator: Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd MS 1048
Kansas City, KS 66160
(877) 643-4872
heartlandtrc.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine is the use of communication equipment to
link health care practitioners and patients in different
locations. This technology is used by health care
providers for many reasons, including increased cost
efficiency, reduced transportation expenses, improved
patient access to specialists and mental health
providers, improved quality of care, and better
communication among providers.”
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, General Benefits, p. 38
(Feb. 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Kansas Medicaid will reimburse for live video, for the
following services:
• Office visits;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacological management services.
The patient must be present at the originating site.
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, General Benefits, p. 38
(Feb. 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Kansas Medicaid requires the patient to be present at
the originating site indicating store and forward will not
be reimbursed.
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, General Benefits, p. 38
(Feb. 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
Kansas Medicaid will reimburse for home telehealth.
The policy states:
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“Home telehealth uses real-time, interactive,
audio/video telecommunication equipment to monitor
patients in the home setting, as opposed to a nurse
visiting the home.
This technology may be used to monitor the patient for
significant changes in health status, provide timely
assessment of chronic conditions, and provide other
skilled nursing services.
Services must be provided by a registered nurse or
licensed practical nurse. Agencies may bill skilled
nursing services on the same date of service as
telehealth services.”
Source: Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, Home Health Agency, p.
33 (Nov. 2012).
Providers are eligible for reimbursement of home
telehealth services that meet the following criteria:
• Prescribed by a physician;
• Considered medically necessary;
• Signed beneficiary consent for telehealth
services;
• Skilled nursing service;
• Does not exceed two visits per week for non-
Home and Community Based Services patients.
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, Home Health Agency, p.
67 (Nov. 2012).
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, General Benefits, p. 38
(Feb. 2012).
Online Prescribing
Physicians must have a pre-existing patient-prescriber
No reference found.
relationship. Physicians are prohibited from prescribing
drugs on the basis of an internet-based questionnaire or
consult, or telephone consult.
Source: KS Admin. Regs., Sec. 68-2-20 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
Written consent for telehealth home services is required.
Source: KS Dept. of Health and Environment, Kansas Medical
Assistance Program, Provider Manual, Home Health Agency, p.
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67 (Jun. 2012).
Location
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Kentucky
Medicaid Program: Kentucky Medicaid
Program Administrator: KY Dept. for Medicaid Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telehealth means the use of interactive audio, video, or
"Telehealth consultation means a medical or health
other electronic media to deliver health care. It includes
consultation, for purposes of patient diagnosis or
the use of electronic media for diagnosis, consultation,
treatment, that requires the use of advanced
treatment, transfer of health or medical data, and
telecommunications technology, including, but not
continuing education.”
limited to: (a) compressed digital interactive video,
audio, or data transmission; (b) clinical data
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 310.200 (2012).
transmission via computer imaging for tele-radiology or
tele-pathology; and (c) other technology that facilitates
(also see Medicaid column)
access to health care services or medical specialty
expertise.”
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 205.510 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Kentucky law states that insurers may not deny
Kentucky Medicaid will reimburse for a “telehealth
coverage because it is “provided thorugh telehealth and
consultation”, which includes live video.
not provided through face-to-face consultation” therefore
requiring reimbursement for live video.
Source: KY Revised Statutes 205.559 (2012).
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 304.17A-138 (2012).
Reimbursement shall not be denied solely because an
in-person consultation between a provider and a patient
(See Medicaid column and “Private Payers” section)
did not occur.
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 205.559 (2012).
Except for a telehealth consultation provided by an
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner or Community
Mental Health Clinic, an amount equal to the amount
paid for a comparable in-person service.
Source: KY Admin. Regs., Title, 907, 3:170, Sec. 4(a) (2011).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Kentucky reimburses for tele-radiology but there is no
other reference to reimbursing for other specialties.
Source: KY Provider Billing Instructions for Physician’s Services
Provider Type - 64, 65, Version 5.6, p.41 (Sept. 26, 2012).
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Medicaid does not cover other forms of store and
forward, as a thelehealth consultation requires a two-
way interactive video.
Source: KY Admin. Regs., Title, 907, 3:170, Sec. 3, 3(a) (2011).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 205.559 (2012).
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 304.17A-138 (2012).
Online Prescribing
Prior to prescribing in response to any communication
No reference found.
transmitted or received by computer or other electronic
means, physicians must establish a proper physician-
patient relationship. This includes:
• Verification that the person requesting
medication is in fact who the patient claims to
be;
• Establishment of a documented diagnosis
through the use of accepted medical practices;
• Maintenance of a current medical record.
An electronic, online, or telephone evaluation by
questionnaire are inadequate for the initial or any follow-
up evaluation.
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 311.597 (2012).
Consent
The provider who delivers or facilitates the telehealth
Before providing a telehealth consultation, providers
service shall obtain the informed consent of the patient
must document written patient informed consent.
before services are provided.
This includes:
Patient consent must be obtained by:
• The patient may refuse the telehealth
• Physicians;
consultation at any time without affecting the
• Chiropractors;
right to future care or treatment, and without
• Nurses;
risking the loss or withdrawal of a benefit to
• Dentists;
which the patient is entitled;
• Dieticians;
• The recipient shall be informed of alternatives to
the telehealth consult;
• Pharmacist;
• The recipient shall have access to medical
• Psychologists;
information resulting from the telehealth consult
• Occupational therapists;
as provided by law;
• Behavioral analysts;
• The dissemination, storage, or retention of an
• Opthamologists;
identifiable recipient image or other information
• Physical therapists;
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• Speech language pathologists or audiologists;
from the telehealth consult shall comply with all
• Social workers;
state and federal confidentiality laws and
• Marriage/family therapists.
regulations;
• The patient shall have the right to be informed of
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 311.5975 (2012).
the parties who will be present at the spoke site
and the hub site during the telehealth consult,
(also see Medicaid column)
and shall have the right to exclude anyone from
either site;
• The patient shall have the right to object to the
videotaping of a telehealth consult.
Source: KY Admin. Regs., Title, 907, 3:170 (2011).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensure
A provider must be licensed in Kentucky with the
No reference found.
exception of persons who, being nonresidents of
Kentucky and lawfully licensed to practice medicine or
osteopathy in their states of actual residence,
infrequently engage in the practice of medicine or
osteopathy within this state, when called to see or attend
particular patients in consultation and association with a
Kentucky-licensed physician.
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 311.560 (2012).
Private Payers
Payers shall not exclude services solely because the
No reference found.
service is provided through telehealth. A health benefit
plan may provide coverage for a consultation at a site
not within the telehealth network at the discretion of the
insurer.
Source: KY Revised Statutes § 304.17A-138 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
(see Medicaid column)
No reimbursement for transmission fees.
Source: KY Admin. Regs., Title, 907, 3:170 (2012).
Miscellaneous
Comments: Kentucky created its e-Health Network in 2005, to develop a secure electronic network. The
network oversees development of ways to use health information technology to improve the health
and lives of state residents.
The network is providing decision support on security of protected information, electronic data
interchange, and clinical practice software packages. This includes the feasibility of developing a
software purchasing alliance to decrease the cost of software, and tax incentives to encourage
network members purchase software that meets state standards.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Kentucky e-Health Network Board. http://ehealth.ky.gov/board/Pages/default.aspx; accessed Dec. 17,
2012.
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
Louisiana
Medicaid Program: Louisiana Medicaid
Program Administrator: LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
TexLa Telehealth Resource Center
3601 4th Street, Ste. 2B440
Lubbock, TX 79430
(806) 743-4440
Recent Policy Developments: Louisiana is currently exploring expanding the use of telemedicine in the
state. There is discussion of potential legislation.
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine is the practice of health care delivery,
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information
diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and transfer of
exchanges from one site to another via electronic
medical data using interactive telecommunication
communications to improve a recipient’s health.
technology that enables a health care practitioner and a
Electronic communication means the use of interactive
patient at two locations separated by distance to interact
telecommunications equipment that includes, at a
via two-way video and audio transmissions
minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-
simultaneously. Neither a telephone conversation nor an
way, real time interactive communication between the
electronic mail message between a health care
patient at the originating site, and the physician or
practitioner and patient, or a true consultation as may be
practitioner at the distant site.”
defined by rules promulgated by the board pursuant to
the Administrative Procedure Act, constitutes
Source: LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals, Professional Svcs.
Provider Manual, Chapter Five of the Medicaid Svcs. Manual, p.
telemedicine.”
152 (February 1, 2012).
Source: LA Revised Statutes 37:1262 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Louisiana law requires reimbursement to the originating
Louisiana Medicaid reimburses for “services provided
site physician for a live video consultation if he/she is
via an interactive audio and video telecommunications
physically present during the exam and interacts with
system.”
the distant-site physician. (See “Private Payers” section
below)
Source: LA Register, Volume 31, 2032 (2012).
Louisiana Medicaid only reimburses the distant site
Source: LA Revised Statutes 22:1821 (2012).
provider.
Source: LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals, Professional Svcs.
Provider Manual, Chapter Five of the Medicaid Svcs. Manual, p.
152 (Feb. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
There is no reimbursement requirement based upon the
Louisiana Medicaid will not provide reimbursement
definition of “telemedicine” which describes telemedicine
based upon the definition of “telemedicine” which
as an interaction “via two-way video and audio
describes telemedicine as including “audio and video
transmission” .
equipment permitting two-way, real time interactive
communication” therefore excluding store and forward.
Source: LA Revised Statutes 37:1262 (2012).
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Source: LA Dept. of Health and Hospitals, Professional Svcs.
Provider Manual, Chapter Five of the Medicaid Svcs. Manual, p.
152 (February 1, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reference found.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reference found for FAX.
Source: LA Revised Statutes 37:1262 (2012).
Online Prescribing
Only physicians certificated by a specialty board of the
No reference found.
American Board of Medical Specialties or the American
Osteopathic Association shall use telemedicine to
prescribe amphetamines or narcotics.
Telemedicine, including the issuance of any prescription
via electronic means, shall be held to the same
prevailing and usually accepted standards of medical
practice as those in traditional, face-to-face settings.
An online, electronic or written mail message, or a
telephonic evaluation by questionnaire or otherwise,
does not satisfy the standards of appropriate care.
Source (amphetamines and narcotics): LA Admin. Code
46:XLV.7513 (2012).
Source (prevailing standards): LA Admin. Code 46:XLV.7505
(2012).
Consent
Physicians must inform telemedicine patients of the
No reference found.
relationship between the physician and patient, and the
role of any other health care provider with respect to
management of the patient. The patient may decline to
receive telemedicine services and withdraw from such
care at any time.
Source: LA Admin. Code 46:XLV.7511 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
A telemedicine license may be issued to out-of-state
No reference found.
physicians, as long as they hold a full and unrestricted
license in another state or U.S. territory.
Out-of-state telemedicine providers cannot open an
office, meet with patients or receive calls from patients
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within Louisiana.
Source: LA Revised Statutes 37:1276.1 (2012).
Private Payers
Reimbursement must be made to the originating site
No reference found.
physician if he/she is physically present during the exam
and interact with the distant-site physician.
Originating-site physician fees shall be at least 75
percent of the normal fee for an intermediate office visit.
No reference found for distant-site physician
reimbursement.
Source: LA Revised Statutes 22:1821 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Louisiana law requires that a physician who uses
telemedicine establish a proper physician-patient
relationship.
Physicians must:
• Verify the identity of the patient;
• Conduct an appropriate exam;
• Establish a proper diagnosis;
• Establish a treatment plan;
• Create a written plan for follow up care.
Source: LA Admin. Code 46:XLV.7509 (2012).
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Maine
Medicaid Program: MaineCare
Medicaid Program Administrator: Maine Dept. of Health and Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine, as it pertains to the delivery of health
“Telehealth” is interactive, visual, real-time
care services, means the use of interactive audio, video
telecommunication, and must be a medically appropriate
or other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis,
means of provider-patient interaction.
consultation or treatment. ‘Telemedicine’ does not
include the use of audio-only telephone, facsimile
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, General Administrative
Policies and Procedures, 10-144 Ch. 101, p. 20 (Feb. 13, 2011).
machine or e-mail.”
Source: ME Revised Statutes Annotated. Title 24, Sec. 4316
(2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Maine law requires coverage for services provided
MaineCare will reimburse for live video when there is a
through telemedicine, which includes live video.
compelling benefit for the patient in order for telehealth
services to be appropriate and related to physical, social
Source: ME Revised Statutes Annotated. Title 24 Sec. 4316 (2012).
or geographic issues that make delivering the service in
person difficult. This includes:
(See Medicaid column & “Private Payers” section)
• For physical issues, a member's medical
condition makes a face-to-face encounter that
entails significant travel inadvisable or
impossible;
• For social issues, the family or other support
system does not support a member traveling a
distance for a face-to-face encounter, or does
not allow the member to take the time that travel
will require;
• For geographic issues, there is a lack of
medical/psychiatric/mental health expertise
locally, limited transportation resources, or a
long wait for such local care.
Source: Code of ME Rules. 10-144-101 (2012).
Providers must receive pre-authorization from the
Department for telehealth services.
Source: Code of ME Rules. 10-144-101 (2012).
Pre-authorization information must include:
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
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• The names, provider numbers and licensure
level of individual providers who utilize
telehealth to provide services;
• A list of the procedure codes to be used;
• A rationale for needing telehealth capabilities for
the services being proposed;
• The specific criteria used in determining when
telehealth services are more appropriate than
face-to-face services;
• A plan for quality assurance activities
specifically related to patient satisfaction and
outcomes for telehealth services;
• Educational information that will be provided to
the patient at the time of the member's visit.
Source: Code of ME Rules. 10-144-101 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reimbursement based upon definition of telehealth,
which is described as occurring in “real-time”,.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, General Administrative
Policies and Procedures, 10-144 Ch. 101, p. 20 (Feb. 13, 2011).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: ME Revised Statutes Annotated. Title 24 Sec. 4316 (2012).
Source: Code of ME Rules. 10-144-101 (2012).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
Tele-pharmacy is allowed.
Tele-pharmacy is a method of delivering prescriptions
dispensed by a pharmacist to a remote site. Pharmacies
using tele-pharmacy must follow all applicable State and
Federal regulations, including use of staff qualified to
deliver prescriptions through tele-pharmacy.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Ch. 2, Pharmacy Services,
10-144 Chapter 101, p. 5 (Oct. 1, 2012).
Providers may dispense prescriptions via tele-
pharmacy; pre-authorization is required.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Ch. 2, Pharmacy Services, p.
33 (Oct. 1, 2012).
Consent
No reference found.
Providers must deliver written educational information to
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
patients at their visit.
This information should be written at a sixth-grade
comprehension level, and include the following:
• Description of the telehealth equipment and
what to expect;
• Explanation that the use of telehealth for this
service is voluntary and that the same service is
available in a face-to-face setting;
• Explanation that the member is able to stop the
telehealth visit at any time and request a face-
to-face service;
• Explanation that MaineCare will pay for
transportation to a distant appointment if
needed;
• HIPAA compliance information regarding the
telehealth encounter.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, General Administrative
Policies and Procedures, 10-144 Ch. 101, p. 22 (Feb. 13, 2011).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions..
Source: ME Revised Statutes Annotated. Title 24 Sec. 4316 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reimbursement for site or transmission fees.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, General Administrative
Policies and Procedures, 10-144 Ch. 101, p. 22 (Feb. 13, 2011).
Miscellaneous
MaineCare will pay for transportation to a distant
appointment if needed.
Source: MaineCare Benefits Manual, General Administrative
Policies and Procedures, 10-144 Ch. 101, p. 22 (Feb. 13, 2011).
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Maryland
Medicaid Program: MD Medical Assistance Program
Program Administrator: MD Dept. of Social Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telehealth means the use of telecommunications and
No reference found.
information technologies for the exchange of information
from one site to another, for the provision of health care
to an individual from a provider through hardwire or
Internet connection.”
Source: MD Health Occupations Annotated Sec. 2-101 (2012).
”Telemedicine means, as it relates to the delivery of
health care services, the use of interactive audio, video,
or other telecommunications or electronic technology by
a licensed health care provider to deliver a health care
services at a site other than the site at which the patient
is located.”
Source: MD Insurance Code Annotated Sec. 15-139 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Maryland law requires private insurers to provide
The Maryland Medical Assistance Program reimburses
coverage for telemedicine services (subject to terms and
for live video for tele-mental health services in 10 rural
conditions of contract), which includes live video.
counties, under a pilot program.
(See “Private Payers” section).
Source: MD Medicaid Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes, p. 6
(Jun. 28, 2012).
Source: MD Insurance Code Annotated Sec. 15-139 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reimbursement based upon definition of
No reference found.
“telemedicine” which describes telemedicine as
“interactive”.
Source: MD Insurance Code Annotated Sec. 15-139 (2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reference found.
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No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: MD Insurance Code Annotated Sec. 15-139 (2012).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
Telehealth providers must inform patients and
No reference found.
consultants of the following:
• The inability to have direct, physical contact with
the patient is a primary difference between
telehealth and direct in-person service delivery;
• The knowledge, experiences, and qualifications
of the consultant providing data and information
to the provider of the telehealth services need
not be completely known to and understood by
the provider;
• The quality of transmitted data may affect the
quality of services provided by the provider;
• That changes in the environment and test
conditions could be impossible to make during
delivery of telehealth services;
Telehealth services may not be provided by
correspondence only.
Source: Code of MD Reg., 10.41.06.04 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
MD has exceptions to its MD-only licensed physicians
No reference found.
for physicians practicing in the adjoining states of
Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Source: MD Health Occupations Code Annotated Sec. 14-302
(2012).
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions.
Source: MD Insurance Code Annotated Sec. 15-139 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Comments: The Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene is conducting a broad-based review of
telemedicine policy issues, and will report its findings and any potential recommendations to the
State Legislature.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Massachusetts
Medicaid Program: MassHealth
Program Administrator: MA Dept. of Health and Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
Recent Policy Developments:
Massachusetts passed SB 2400 in 2012, which requires the MA Division of Insurance and Board of Registration in
Medicine to review out-of-state physician issues and develop recommendations for legislation to permit use of out-
of-state physicians for telemedicine.
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine as it pertains to the delivery of health care
No reference found.
services, shall mean the use of interactive audio, video
or other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis,
consultation or treatment. ‘Telemedicine’ shall not
include the use of audio-only telephone, facsimile
machine or e-mail.”
Source: Annotated Laws of MA. Chapter 175, Sec. 47BB.
Live Video Reimbursement
Massachusetts law requires coverage of telemedicine
No reference found.
services (subject to contract terms and conditions),
which includes live video.
(See “Private Payers” section).
Source: MA Advanced Legislative Service. Chapter 224, S.B. 2400
(2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX ?
No Reimbursement for email.
No reference found.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: MA Advanced Legislative Service. Chapter 224, S.B. 2400
(2012).
Online Prescribing
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Prior to any e-prescribing, there must be a physician-
No reference found.
patient relationship that conforms to certain minimum
norms and standards of care, which includes taking a
medical history and conducting an appropriate exam.
Source: “Internet Prescribing,” MA Board of Registration in
Medicine. Dec. 17, 2003.
guidelines/policy-03-06.pdf
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions, and must be consistent
with coverage for health care services provided through
in-person consultations.
Source: MA Advanced Legislative Service. Chapter 224, S.B. 2400
(2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Michigan
Medicaid Program: Michigan Medicaid
Program Administrator: Michigan Dept. of Community Health
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Ste. 110
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(855) 283-3734 ext. 232
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
”Telemedicine means the use of an electronic media to
“Telemedicine (also known as telehealth) is the use of
link patients with health care professionals in different
an electronic media to link beneficiaries with health
locations. To be considered telemedicine, the health
professionals in different locations. The examination of
care professional must be able to examine the patient
the beneficiary is performed via a real time interactive
via a real-time, interactive audio or video, or both,
audio and video telecommunications system. This
telecommunications system, and the patient must be
means that the beneficiary must be able to see and
able to interact with the off-site health care professional
interact with the off-site practitioner at the time services
at the time the services are provided.”
are provided via telemedicine.”
Source: MI Compiled Law Svcs. Sec. 500.3476 (2012).
Source: MI Dept. of Community Health, Medicaid Provider
Manual, p. 397(Oct. 1, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Michigan law states that “contracts shall not require
Michigan Medicaid reimburses for the following services
face-to-face contact between a health care professional
via live video:
and a patient for services appropriately provided through
telemedicine”, which includes live video.
• Consults;
• Office visits;
Source: MI Compiled Law Services Sec. 500.3476 (2012).
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacological management;
(See “Private Payers” section).
• End stage renal disease (ESRD) related
services. However, there must be at least one
in-person visit per month, by a physician, nurse
practitioner, or physician’s assistant, to examine
the vascular site for ESRD services.
Where face-to-face visits are required, telemedicine
services may be used in addition to the required face-to-
face visit, but cannot be used as a substitute.
Source: Dept. of Community Health, Medicaid Provider Manual, p.
1414 (Oct. 1, 2012).
The following health professionals may provide
telemedicine services:
• Physician;
• Osteopath;
• Podiatrist;
• Nurse practitioner;
• Nurse midwife;
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• Physician’s assistant, (billed under the
supervising physician);
• Psychologist;
• Social Worker.
Source: Dept. of Community Health, Medicaid Provider Manual, p.
1415 (Oct. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reimbursement based upon definition of
Michigan Medicaid does not reimburse for store and
“telemedicine” which describes telemedicine as
forward based upon the definition of telemedicine which
occurring in “real time.
describes telemedicine as occurring in “real time”,.
Source: MI Compiled Law Svcs. Sec. 500.3476 (2012).
Source: Dept. of Community Health, Medicaid Provider Manual, p.
397(Oct. 1, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX Restrictions
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Providers must have an existing physician-patient
No reference found.
relationship.
Source: MI Compiled Laws Sec. 333.17751 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
The distant site and originating site must be at least 50
miles apart, except for Federal telemedicine
demonstration projects funded or approved by the
Secretary of Human Services as of Dec. 31, 2000.
Source: MI Dept. of Community Health, p. 1415.
Eligible originating sites:
• County mental health clinics or publicly funded
mental health facilities;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Hospitals (inpatient, outpatient, or Critical
Access Hospitals);
• Physician or other providers’ offices, including
medical clinics;
• Renal dialysis facilities;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Skilled nursing facilities;
• Tribal Health Centers.
Source: MI Dept. of Community Health, p. 1415.
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
In-state providers are to be used whenever possible for
distant site services.
Source: MI Dept. of Community Health, p. 1415.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Contracts shall not require face-to-face contact between
No reference found.
a health care professional and a patient for services
appropriately provided through telemedicine, as
determined by the insurer or health maintenance
organization. Telemedicine services shall be provided by
a health care professional who is licensed, registered, or
otherwise authorized to engage in his or her health care
profession in the state where the patient is located.
Telemedicine services are subject to all terms and
conditions of the contract.
Source: MI Compiled Law Services Sec. 500.3476 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
No reimbursement for remote access for surgical
procedures, and use of robotics.
Source: Dept. of Community Health, Medicaid Provider Manual, p.
1414 (Oct. 1, 2012).
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Minnesota
Medicaid Program: Medical Assistance (MA)
Program Administrator: MN Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine” is “the use of telecommunications to
furnish medical information and services. Telemedicine
consultations must be made via two-way, interactive
video or store-and-forward technology.”
Source: MN Dept. of Human Services, Provider Manual, Physician
and Professional Services,
CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDoc
Name=id_008926#P469_31519>, (Accessed Oct. 30, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program reimburses
live video for fee-for-service programs.
Prepaid health plans may choose whether to cover
telemedicine services.
Eligible services:
• Mental health services;
• Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports
services;
• Occupational therapy;
• Physical therapy;
• Speech-language pathology.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Svcs., Provider Manual,
Individualized Education Program
NAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestRelease
d&dDocName=dhs16_151385> (Accessed Oct. 30, 2012).
Telemedicine consults are limited to three per calendar
week per patient.
Payment is made to both the consulting physician and
the referring physician if the referring physician is
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
present during the consult.
The patient record must include a written opinion from
the consulting physician.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Services, Provider Manual, Physician
and Professional
Telemedicine consults shall be paid at the same rate as
in-person services.
Minnesota Source: MN Statute Sec. 256B.0625
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program reimburses for
services delivered through store and forward
technology.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Svcs., Provider Manual, Physician
and Professional
Store and forward technology includes telemedicine
consults that do not occur in real time, and that do not
require a face-to-face encounter with the patient for all
or any part of the consult.
Source: MN Statute Sec. 256B.0625 (2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
There is reimbursement for “telehomecare” under
Elderly Waiver (EW) and Alternative Care (AC)
programs.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Svcs., Provider Manual, Elderly
Waiver (EW) and Alternative Care (AC) Program, <
MIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&
dDocName=id_056766> (Accessed Jan., 12, 2013).
Reimbursement is for skilled nurse visits only.
Telehomecare is defined as the use of
telecommunications technology by a home health care
professional to deliver home health care services within
the professional’s scope of practice to a recipient
located at a site other than the site where the
practitioner is located.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Svcs., Provider Manual, Home Care
Svcs.,
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
“A communication between two physicians that consists
solely of a telephone conversation is not a telemedicine
consultation.”
Source: MN Statute Sec. 256B.0625 (2012).
Online Prescribing
A prescription or drug order is not valid unless it can be
No reference found.
established that the prescription or order was based on
a documented patient evaluation, including an
examination, adequate to establish a diagnosis and
identify underlying conditions and contraindications to
treatment.
This includes the referring provider performing an in-
person examination and a consultant issuing the
prescription when providing services by telemedicine.
Source: MN Statute Sec. 151.37(2012).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Consults performed by providers who are not located in
Minnesota and contiguous counties require prior
authorization by the Medicaid program.
Source: MN Dept. of Human Svcs., Provider Manual, Physician
and Professional Svcs.,
Cross-State Licensing
A physician licensed in another state can provide
No reference found.
telemedicine services to a patient in Minnesota if their
license has never been revoked or restricted in any
state, they agree to not open an office in Minnesota and
they register with the state’s board.
Source: MN Statute Sec. 147.032(1)
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Mississippi
Medicaid Program: Mississippi Medicaid
Program Administrator: Mississippi Division of Medicaid
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
South Central Telehealth Resource Center
4301 W. Markham St. #519
Little Rock, AR 72205
(855) 664-3450
learntelehealth.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine is the practice of medicine using
No reference found.
electronic communication, information technology or
other means between a physician in one location and a
patient in another location with or without an intervening
health care provider. This definition does not include the
practice of medicine through postal or courier services.”
Source: Code of MS Rules 50-013-2635 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
There is live video reimbursement for Medicaid mental
health medication evaluation and management.
Source: Code of MS Rules 13-000-206 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
There is reimbursement for tele-radiology services,
however there is no reference to reimbursing for other
specialties.
Source: MS Div. of Medicaid, Provider Policy Manual,
Teleradioloy, p. 1, (Jan. 1, 2010).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
A prescription for a controlled substance based solely
An e-prescribed, telephoned or faxed prescription from
on a consumer's completion of an online medical
the prescriber may be accepted when it is not in conflict
questionnaire is not a valid prescription.
with federal and state laws and regulations.
Source: MS Code Annotated Sec. 41-29-137 (2012).
Source: MS Div. of Medicaid, Provider Policy Manual, Pharmacy,
p. 3, (Apr. 1, 2009).
Consent
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
The physician should obtain the patient's informed
No reference found.
consent before providing care.
Source: Code of MS Rules 50-013-2635 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Physicians practicing telemedicine must have a
No reference found.
Mississippi medical license.
However, a valid Mississippi license is not required
where the evaluation, treatment and/or medicine given
by a physician outside of Mississippi is requested by a
physician duly licensed to practice medicine in
Mississippi, and the physician who has requested such
evaluation, treatment and/or medical opinion has
already established a doctor/patient relationship with the
patient to be evaluated and/or treated.
In order to practice telemedicine a valid "physician
patient relationship" must be established. The elements
of this valid relationship are:
1. verify that the person requesting the medical
treatment is in fact who they claim to be;
2. conducting an appropriate examination of the
patient that meets the applicable standard of
care;
3. establishing a diagnosis through the use of
accepted medical practices, i.e., a patient
history, mental status exam, physical exam and
appropriate diagnostic and laboratory testing;
4. discussing with the patient the diagnosis, risks
and benefits of various treatment options to
obtain informed consent;
5. insuring the availability of appropriate follow-up
care; and
6. maintaining a complete medical record available
to patient and other treating health care
providers.
Source: Code of MS Rules 50-013-2635 (2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
To practice telemedicine, physicians must establish a
valid physician-patient relationship by the following:
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• Verifying the identity of the patient;
• Conducting an appropriate exam that meets the
applicable standard of care. This exam need not
be in person if the technology is sufficient to
provide the same information to the physician as
if the exam had been performed face to face;
• Establishing a diagnosis;
• Discussing with the patient the diagnosis, and
the risks and benefits of various treatment
options, to obtain informed consent;
• Insuring the availability of appropriate follow-up
care;
• Maintaining a complete medical record.
Source: Code of MS Rules 50-013-2635 (2012).
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Missouri
Medicaid Program: HealthNet
Program Administrator: Missouri Dept. of Social Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd MS 1048
Kansas City, KS 66160
(877) 643-4872
heartlandtrc.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telehealth, the use of medical information exchanged
“Telehealth means the use of medical information
from one site to another via electronic communications
exchanged from one (1) site to another via electronic
to improve the health status of a patient.”
communications to improve the health status of a
patient. Telehealth means the practice of health care
Source: MO Revised Statutes § 208.670 (2012).
delivery, evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or
treatment using the transfer of medical data, audio
(also see Medicaid column)
visual, or data communications that are performed over
two (2) or more locations between providers who are
physically separated from the patient or from each
other.”
Source: MO Code of State Regulation, Title 13, 70-3.190 (2010).
Telehealth Services are medical services provided
through advanced telecommunications technology from
one location to another. Medical information is
exchanged in real-time communication from an
originating site, where the participant is located, to a
distant site, where the provider is located, allowing them
to interact as if they are having a face-to-face, hands-on
session.
Source: MO HealthNet, Provider Manual, Behavioral Services,
Section 13, p. 65 (Oct 24, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
HealthNet will reimburse for live video.
Eligible providers:
• Physicians;
• Advanced registered nurse practitioners,
including nurse practitioners with a mental
health specialty;
• Psychologists.
Reimbursement to the provider at the distant site is
made at the same amount as for an in-person service.
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Source (reimbursement): MO Revised Statutes § 208.670 (2012).
Source (eligible providers): MO HealthNet, Provider Manual,
Behavioral Services, Section 13, p. 66 (Oct 24, 2012).
Source (distant site reimbursement): MO Code of State
Regulation, Title 13, 70-3.190 (2010).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
HealthNet will not reimburse for store and forward.
Source: MO HealthNet, Provider Manual, Behavioral Services,
Section 13, p. 65 (Oct 24, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Prescribing or dispensing drugs without sufficient
No reference found.
examination is prohibited.
Source: MO Revised Statutes § 334.100 (2012).
Consent
No reference found.
Providers must obtain written patient consent before
delivery of telehealth services.
Source: MO Code of State Regulation, Title 13, 70-3.190 (2010).
Location
No reference found.
Originating sites must be one of the following:
• Physician or other health care provider office;
• Hospital;
• Critical Access Hospital;
• Rural Health Clinic;
• Federally Qualified Health Center;
• Nursing home;
• Dialysis center;
• Missouri state habilitation center or regional
office;
• Community mental health center;
• Missouri state mental health facility;
• Missouri state facility;
• Missouri residential treatment facility;
• Comprehensive Substance Treatment and
Rehabilitation (CSTAR) program.
Source: MO HealthNet, Provider Manual, Behavioral Services,
Section 13, p. 66 (Oct 24, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Originating sites are eligible to receive a facility fee;
distant sites are not eligible.
Source: MO Code of State Regulations, Title 13, 70 3.190 (May 31,
2011).
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Montana
Medicaid Program: Montana Medicaid
Program Administrator: MT Dept. of Public Health and Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the practice of medicine by a
No reference found in Medicaid Manual.
physician located outside the state, who performs an
evaluative or therapeutic act relating to the treatment or
correction of a patient's physical or mental condition,
ailment, disease, injury, or infirmity, and who transmits
that evaluative or therapeutic act into Montana through
any means, method, device, or instrumentality under the
following conditions:
• The information or opinion is provided directly to
a patient in Montana for compensation or with
the expectation of compensation;
• The physician does not limit the physician's
services to an occasional case;
• The physician has an established or regularly
used connection with the state, including but not
limited to: (i) an office or another place for the
reception of a transmission from the physician;
(ii) a contractual relationship with a person or
entity in Montana related to the physician's
practice of medicine; or (iii) privileges in a
Montana hospital or another Montana health
care facility.”
Source: MT Code Annotated, § 37-3-342 (2011).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Montana Medicaid will reimburse for live video services
when the consulting provider is enrolled in Medicaid.
The requesting provider need not be enrolled in
Medicaid nor be present during the telemedicine consult.
Source: MT Dept. of Public Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid
and Medical Assistance Programs Manual, Physician Related
Svcs., p 27 (Mar 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found in statute.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Montana issues telemedicine licenses to out-of-state
No reference found.
physicians that only allows the physician to practice
telemedicine in the specialty the physician is board
certified or meets the current requriements to take the
examination to become board certified.
This license does not authorize the physician to practice
medicine while physically present within the state.
Source: MT Code Annotated, 37-3-343.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reimbursement for network use charges.
Source: MT Dept. of Public Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid
and Medical Assistance Programs Manual, Physician Related
Svcs., p 27 (Mar 2012).
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Nebraska
Medicaid Program: Nebraska Medicaid
Program Administrator: NE Dept. of Health and Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telehealth means the use of telecommunications
technology by a health care practitioner to deliver health
care services within his or her scope of practice to a
patient located at a site other than the site where the
patient is located.
Telehealth service means any contact between a patient
and a health care practitioner relating to the health care
diagnosis or treatment of such patient through
telehealth, but does not include a telephone
conversation, electronic mail message, or facsimile
transmission between a health care practitioner and a
patient or a consultation between two health care
practitioners.”
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Nebraska Medicaid stipulates in-person contact is not
required for reimbursable services under the Medicaid
program, subject to reimbursement policies developed.
This policy also applies to managed care plans who
contract with the Department only to the extent that:
• Services delivered via telehealth are covered
and reimbursed under the fee-for-service
program and
• Managed care contracts are amended to add
coverage of services delivered via telehealth
Telehealth services are not covered if the patient has
access to a comparable service within 30 miles of
his/her place of residence.
Exceptions to this requirement:
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Emergency or urgent medical situations;
• When accessing in-person services at less than
30 miles poses a significant hardship on the
patient, due to a medical condition or disability;
• Nursing facility patients who require
transportation via ambulance.
Reimbursement shall, at a minimum, be set at the same
rate as a comparable in-person consult.
Source (authorization and reimbursement): NE Revised Statutes
Sec. 71-8506 (2012).
Source (exceptions to 30-mile rule): NE Admin. Code Title 471,
Ch. 1.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Nebraska Medicaid will reimburse for tele-radiology
when it meets the American College of Radiology
standards for tele-radiology. There is no other reference
to reimbursing for other specialties.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
(see Medicaid column)
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
Online Prescribing
Prescribing drugs to individuals the physician has never
Prescriptions over the Internet: Neither the prescribing
met, based solely on answers to questions provided by
health care practitioner service nor the pharmacy
the internet, telephone, or FAX, or without first
service is covered when the health care practitioner
establishing a proper physician-patient relationship, is
prescribing the medication has only reviewed an e-mail
prohibited.
message or e-mail questionnaire about the client.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 172, Ch. 88.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
(also see Medicaid column)
Consent
Written patient consent required prior to any service
Written consent required before initial service delivery.
delivery.
Must include this information:
Source: NE Revised Statutes Sec. 71-8505 (2012).
• The patient may refuse the service at any time
with no loss of future treatment or program
(also see Medicaid column)
benefits patient is otherwise entitled to;;
• A list of alternative care options, including in-
person services;;
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• Confidentiality protections;
• Patient access to all medical information from
the consult;
• Prior consent for dissemination of any client-
identifiable images or information from the
consult;
• Patient shall be informed of all parties present at
both ends of the consult, and the patient may
exclude anyone from either site;
• The patient may see an appropriately trained
staff or employee in person immediately after
the consult, or be informed ahead of time that
this is not available.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
Location
No reference found.
Telehealth Site means either a health care facility
enrolled with Medicaid and licensed under Neb. Rev.
Stat. Section 71-2017 to 71-2029, and effective January
1, 2001, licensed under the Health Care Facility Act or a
health care practitioner facility whose practitioners are
enrolled with Medicaid and credentialed under the
Uniform Licensing Law.
Source: NE Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Title 471 NE
Medical Assistance Svcs., p. 18 (July 11, 2009).
Telehealth services are not covered if the patient has
access to a comparable service within 30 miles of
his/her place of residence.
Exceptions to this requirement:
• Emergency or urgent medical situations;
• When accessing in-person services at less than
30 miles poses a significant hardship on the
patient, due to a medical condition or disability;
• Nursing facility patients who require
transportation via ambulance.
Source (exceptions to 30-mile rule): NE Admin. Code Title 471,
Ch. 1.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
(see Medicaid column)
Transmission costs may be covered, but not as a
separate service.
The costs are included in the payment for inpatient
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
hospital services, or per diem or monthly payments for:
• Inpatient hospital services, including general
hospital as well as psychiatric and rehabilitation
hospital services;
• Nursing facility services;
• Intermediate care facility-mentally retarded
services;
• Assisted living facility services;
• Residential treatment center services;
• Treatment group home services;
• Day treatment facility services;
• Treatment foster care services;
• Mental health/substance abuse crisis facility
services;
• Psychiatric rehabilitative services.
Source: NE Admin. Code Title 471, Ch. 1.
Miscellaneous
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
Nevada
Medicaid Program: Nevada Medicaid
Program Administrator: Division of Health Care Financing and Policy (DHCFP)
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 245105
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-4498
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telemedicine means the practice of osteopathic
“Telehealth is the use of a telecommunications system
medicine through the synchronous or asynchronous
to substitute for an in-person encounter for professional
transfer of medical data or information using interactive
consultations, office visits, office psychiatry services,
audio, video or data communication, other than through
and a limited number of other medical services.”
a standard telephone, facsimile transmission or
electronic mail message.”
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3400, p. 1 (Sept 12, 2012).
Source: NV Revised Statutes Annotated Sec. 633.165 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Nevada Medicaid will reimburse for live video.
Eligible services:
• Consultations;
• Follow-up inpatient consults;
• Office of other outpatient visits;
• Subsequent hospital care services;
• Subsequent nursing facility care services;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interview examination;
• End-stage renal disease services
• Neurobehavioral status exam;
• Individual health and behavior assessment and
interventions;
• Individual and group diabetes self-management
training services;
• Smoking cessation counseling, for pregnant
women only.
Reimbursement should be at the same amount as in-
person services.
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.4, p. 6 (Sept 12, 2012).
Eligible providers:
1
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Physician;
• Nurse practitioner;
• Physician assistant;
• Nurse midwife;
• Clinical psychologist;
• Clinical social worker.
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.3, p. 5 (Sept 12, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Nevada Medicaid will not reimburse for store and
forward.
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.4, p. 6 (Sept 12, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reference found for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone, except psychiatric
No reimbursement for FAX.
treatment in crisis intervention.
No reference found for FAX.
Source: NV Revised Statutes Annotated Sec. 633.165 (2012).
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 600, p. 4 (Jul. 10, 2010).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
For osteopaths, oral and written consent. Must include
this information:
• The patient or legal representative may
withdraw consent at any time;
• Potential risks, consequences and benefits of
telemedicine;
• Whether the osteopath has a financial interest in
the web site used to engage in telemedicine, or
in the products or services provided ;
• Patient privacy and security;
• The osteopath will not release any confidential
medical information without written consent.
Source: NV Revised Statutes Annotated Sec. 633.165 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
The originating site must be located in a rural Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), or a county that is
not included in a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.1, p. 4 (Sept 12.2012).
Eligible originating sites include:
• Office of a physician, physician assistant, nurse
practitioner, or nurse, midwife;
• Critical Access Hospital (CAH);
• Rural Health Clinic (RHC);
• Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC);
• Hospital;
• Hospital-based or CAH-based renal dialysis center
(including satellites);
• Skilled nursing facility;
• Office of clinical psychologist;
• Office of clinical social worker;
• Community mental health centers;
• Indian Health Services, tribal organization, or urban
Indian organization health programs.
Source: NV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.3, p. 4 (Sept 12.2012).
Cross-State Licensing
Nevada issues special-purpose licenses to out-of-state
No reference found.
physicians for telemedicine services.
Physicians must:
• Hold a full, unrestricted license in another state;
• Not have any disciplinary or other action taken
by any state or jurisdiction;
• Be certified by the American Board of Medical
Specialties.
Source: NV Revised Statutes Sec. 630.261(e).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Before an osteopathic physician may use telemedicine:
Telehealth services do not require prior authorization.
However, individual services may require prior
• A bona fide relationship between the osteopathic
authorization, whether delivered in person or by
physician and the patient must exist which must
telehealth.
include, without limitation, a history and physical
examination or consultation which occurred in person
Nevada Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Services
Manual, Section 3403.8, p. 9 (Sept. 12, 2012).
and which was sufficient to establish a diagnosis and
identify any underlying medical conditions of the
patient.
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• The osteopathic physician must obtain informed,
written consent from the patient or the legal
representative of the patient to engage in
telemedicine with the patient. The osteopathic
physician shall maintain the consent form as part of
the permanent medical record of the patient.
Source: NV Revised Statutes Annotated Sec. 633.165 (2012).
Comment:
In 2011, the Nevada Legislature defined telemedicine and established practice requirements.
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
New Hampshire
Medicaid Program: New Hampshire Medicaid
Program Administrator: Dept. of Health and Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telemedicine, as it pertains to the delivery of health
No reference found.
care services, means the use of audio, video, or other
electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis,
consultation, or treatment. Telemedicine does not
include the use of audio-only telephone or facsimile.”
Source: NH Revised Statutes Annotated, 415-J:2 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
New Hampshire statute states that insurers may not
No reference found.
deny coverage for services provided through
telemedicine, which includes live video.
Source: NH Revised Statutes Annotated, 415-J:3 (2012).
(See “Private Payers” section).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found for email.
No reference found.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: NH Revised Statutes Annotated, 415-J:2 (2012).
Online Prescribing
A physician-patient relationship requires an in-person
No reference found.
exam. Prescribing drugs to individuals without a
physician-patient relationship is prohibited, except
under the following conditions:
• Writing admission orders for a newly
hospitalized patient;
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• A patient of another provider for whom the
prescriber is taking call;
• A prescription for a patient who has been
examined by a physician assistant, nurse
practitioner, or other licensed practitioner;
• Medication on a short-term basis for a new
patient prior to the patient's first appointment;
• When providing limited treatment to a family
member in accordance with the American
Medical Association Code of Medical Ethics.
Source: NH Revised Statutes Annotated, Sec. 329:1-c.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found in statute.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Insurers may not deny coverage for services provided
No reference found.
through telemedicine, if the services are covered
through in-person consults.
Source: NH Revised Statutes Annotated, 415-J:3 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
New Jersey
Medicaid Program: New Jersey Medicaid
Program Administrator: New Jersey Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
No reference found.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
New Mexico
Medicaid Program: New Mexico Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: New Mexico Human Services Dept., Medical Assistance Division (MAD)
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 245105
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-4498
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the practice of medicine across
No reference found.
state lines.”
Source: NM Administrative Code, 16.10.2.7 (2012).
“The practice of medicine across state lines means the
rendering of a written or otherwise documented medical
opinion concerning diagnosis or treatment of a patient
within this state, by a physician located outside this
state, as a result of transmission of individual patient
data by electronic, telephonic or other means from within
this state, to the physician or the physician’s agent, OR
the rendering of treatment to a patient within this state,
by a physician located outside this state, as a result of
transmission of individual patient data by electronic,
telephonic or other means from within this state to the
physician or the physician’s agent.”
Source: NM Statutes Annotated, 1978 Sec. 61-6-6 (2012).
"Telehealth means the use of electronic information,
imaging and communication technologies, including
interactive audio, video and data communications as
well as store-and-forward technologies, to provide and
support health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation,
treatment, transfer of medical data and education.”
Source: NM Statutes Annotated Sec. 24-1G-3 (2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
New Mexico statute encourages the use and
New Mexico Medicaid will reimburse for live video for
reimbursement of telehealth, which includes live video.
the following covered services:
Source: NM Statutes Annotated, Sec. 24-25-5 (2012).
• Consultations;
• Evaluation and management services;
(also see Medicaid column)
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interview examinations;
• End-stage renal disease related services;
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Individual medical nutrition services.
Source: See 8.310.2 NMAC, Medical Services Providers, 8.310.8
NMAC, Mental Health Professional Services, MAD-758 [8.324.9
NMAC], Nutrition Services and 8.325.2 NMAC, Dialysis Services.
Approved providers:
•
Physicians and osteopaths;
•
Podiatrists;
•
Community mental health centers;
•
Core service agencies;
•
Hospitals;
•
Rural Health Clinics;
•
School-based health centers;
•
Federally Qualified Health Centers;
•
Nurse practitioners and registered nurses (in
collaboration with physician or as an
independent provider within their scope of
practice);
•
Physician assistants;
•
Nurse midwives;
•
Pharmacist clinicians;
•
Clinical nurse specialists (in collaboration with
physician or as an independent provider within
their scope fo practice);
•
Psychologists (Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D.);
•
Licensed independent social workers;
•
Licensed professional clinical counselors
•
Licensed family and marriage therapists
•
Registered dietitians or nutrition professionals;
•
Indian Health Service and tribal facilities;
•
Physical therapists;
•
Occupational therapists;
•
Speech pathologists.
Source: NM Human Svcs. Dept., Medical Assistance Division,
Program Policy Manual, Section 8.310.13.10 (Aug. 1, 2007).
Reimbursement for services at the originating site and
the distant site are equivalent to in-person services.
Source: NM Admin Code 8.310.13.9 (2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
New Mexico Statute defines telehealth as encompassing
New Mexico Medicaid states that a telehealth
Store and Forward.
communication system must occur in ‘real-time’.
Source: NM Statutes Annotated Sec. 24-1G-3 (2012).
Source: NM Human Svcs. Dept., Medical Assistance Division,
Program Policy Manual, Section 8.310.13.12(A) (Aug. 1, 2007).
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX Restrictions
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Physicians are prohibited from prescribing, dispensing
No reference found.
or administering drugs or medical supplies to a patient
when there is no established physician-patient
relationship.
This includes prescribing over the Internet, or via other
electronic means, based solely on an online
questionnaire.
Physicians may prescribe online during a live video
exam. The prescribing physician must:
• Obtain a medical history;
• Obtain informed consent;
• Generate a medical record;
• A physical exam is recorded as appropriate by
the telehealth practitioner or a practitioner such
as a physician, advance practice nurse, or
physician or anesthesiologist assistant; or the
exam is waived when a physical exam would
not normally be part of a typical physical face-
to-face encounter with the patient for the
services being provided.
Source: NM Statutes Annotated, 1978 Sec. 61-6-20(B).
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
An interactive telehealth communication system must
include both interactive audio and video, and be
delivered on a real-time basis at both the originating and
distant sites.
Source: See 8.310.2 NMAC, Medical Services Providers, 8.310.8
NMAC, Mental Health Professional Services, MAD-758 [8.324.9
NMAC], Nutrition Services and 8.325.2 NMAC, Dialysis Services.
Eligible originating sites:
• Practitioner office or clinic;
• Hospital;
• Critical Access Hospital;
• Rural Health Clinic;
• Federally Qualified Health Center;
• Community mental health center or core service
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
agency;
• School-based health center;
• Indian Health Services and tribal facilities;
• Ambulatory surgical or treatment center;
• Skilled nursing facility;
• Residential treatment center;
• Home health agency;
• Diagnostic laboratory or imaging center;
• Rehabilitation or other therapeutic health
setting;
• Eligible recipient's residence.
Source: NM Admin Code, 8.310.13.12 (2012).
Cross-State Licensing
NM issues telemedicine licenses to providers who hold a
When the originating site is in New Mexico and the
full, unrestricted license in another state.
distant site is outside New Mexico, the distant-site
provider at the distant site must be licensed in New
Source: NM Statutes Annotated, 1978 Sec. 61-6-11.1.
Mexico for telehealth, or meet federal requirements for
Indian Health Service or tribal contract facilities.
Source: NM Human Svcs. Dept., Medical Assistance Division,
Program Policy Manual, Section 8.310.13.10 (Aug. 1, 2007).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
A telehealth originating-site fee is covered if:
• The eligible recipient was present at and
participated in the telehealth visit at the an
originating-site located in a health professional
shortage area (HPSA);
• A county not classified as a metropolitan
statistical area (MSA);
• A primary medical care health professional
shortage area for physicians, nurse
practitioners, and physician assistants;
• Primary behavioral health care professional
shortage area for psychiatrists and clinical
psychologists;
• A medical specialist shortage area for non-
primary care medical specialties;
• An IHS or tribal facility, a Federally Qualified
Health Center or Rural Health Clinic, or a
federal or state telemedicine demonstration
project area.
Source: NM Human Svcs. Dept., Medical Assistance Division,
Program Policy Manual, Section 8.310.13.12(C) (Aug. 1, 2007).
Reimbursement is made to the originating site for an
interactive telehealth system fee at the lesser of the
following:
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Provider's billed charge;
• Maximum allowed by MAD for the specific
service or procedure.
Source: NM Admin Code 8.310.13.15 (2012).
Miscellaneous
Comment:
New Mexico offers out of state providers a "telemedicine license" to practice within its borders.
New Mexico is also the home of Project ECHO. The project's mission is to develop the capacity to
safely and effectively treat chronic, common, and complex diseases in rural and underserved areas,
and to monitor outcomes of this treatment utilizing technology.
5
Center for Connected Health Policy
New York
Medicaid Program: New York Medicaid
Mediaid Program Administrator: New York State Dept. of Health
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the delivery of clinical health care
“Telemedicine is the use of interactive audio and video
services by means of real time two-way electronic audio-
telecommunications technology to support "real time"
visual communications which facilitate the assessment,
interactive patient care and consultations between
diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care
healthcare practitioners and patients at a distance. The
management and self management of a patient's health
distant site or "hub" is where the medical specialist
care, while such patient is at the originating site and the
providing the consultation or service is located. The
health care provider is at a distant site.”
originating site or "spoke" is where the referring health
professional and patient are located.”
Source: NY Consolidated Law Service Public Health Sec. 2805-u.
Source: NY Dept. of Health, 2011 DOH Medicaid Updates, Volume
27
2011/2011-09.htm#ln2> Accessed Nov. 1, 2012.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
New York Medicaid will reimburse for live video services
for medically necessary services provided to patients in:
• Hospitals (emergency room, outpatient department,
Inpatient) established under Article 28 of the New
York Public Health Law;
• Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (D&TCs)
established under Article 28 of the New York Public
Health Law;
• FQHCs that have "opted into" NY Medicaid
Ambulatory Patient Groups (APG);
• Non-FQHC School Based Health Centers (SBHCs).
Providers who may deliver telemedicine services
include:
• Physician specialists, including psychiatrists;
• Certified Diabetes Educators (CDEs);
• Certified Asthma Educators (CAEs or A-ECs).
Source: NY Dept. of Health, 2011 DOH Medicaid Updates, Volume
27
2011/2011-09.htm#ln2> Accessed Nov. 1, 2012.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Store and Forward Reimbursement
New York’s definition of “telemedicine” which describes
Store and forward is not reimbursed.
telemedicine as “real time two-way electronic audio-
visual communications”, excludes store and forward.
Source: NY Dept. of Health, 2011 DOH Medicaid Updates, Volume
27
Source: NY Consolidated Law Service Public Health Sec. 2805-u.
2011/2011-09.htm#ln2> Accessed Nov. 1, 2012.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
Demonstration rates of payment or fees shall be
Please see “Comments” section.
established for telehealth services provided by a
certified home health agency, a long term home health
care program or AIDS home care program, or for
telehealth services by a licensed home care services
agency under contract with such an agency or program,
in order to ensure the availability of technology-based
patient monitoring, communication and health
management. Reimbursement is provided only in
connection with Federal Food and Drug Administration-
approved and interoperable devices that are
incorporated as part of the patient’s plan of care.
Source: NY Consolidated Law Service Public Health Sec. 3614.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
New York hospitals acting as originating (spoke) sites
must ensure that all physicians at distant (hub) sites are
appropriately credentialed and privileged.
Originating sites may contract with an outside entity for
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
professional application and verification, but not for peer
review, quality assurance/quality improvement activities,
and granting medical staff membership or professional
privileges.
Source: NY Dept. of Health, 2011 DOH Medicaid Updates, Volume
27
2011/2011-09.htm#ln2> Accessed Nov. 1, 2012.
Comments: New York is in the process of updating its Medicaid reimbursement policies for telehealth.
New York began implementation of a Home Health program to serve those with complex medical,
behavioral, and long term care needs. Health Home is a care management service model whereby
all of an individual's caregivers communicate with one another so that all of a patient's needs are
addressed in a comprehensive manner. This is done primarily through a "care manager" who
oversees and provides access to all of the services an individual needs to assure that they receive
everything necessary to stay healthy, out of the emergency room and out of the hospital. Health
records are shared (either electronically or paper) among providers so that services are not
duplicated or neglected. The health home services are provided through a network of organizations
- providers, health plans and community-based organizations. When all the services are considered
collectively they become a virtual "Health Home."
Source: NY Dept. of Health, Medicaid Health Homes <
Telemedicine/telehealth reimbursement in managed care is optional. A review of Web resources of
18 MMC Plans reveals policy statements of telemedicine coverage for at least the following
insurance providers:
•
Amerigroup New York
•
BlueCross Blue Shield of Western New York
•
MVP Health Plan
•
United Healthcare
•
Univera Community Health
•
WellCare of New York
Source: Northeast Telehealth Resource Center.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
North Carolina
Medicaid Program: North Carolina Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine is the use of two-way real-time interactive
audio and video between places of lesser and greater
medical capability or expertise to provide and support
health care, when distance separates participants who
are in different geographical locations.”
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 2, July 1, 2012.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
North Carolina Medicaid will reimburse for live video
medical services and tele-psychiatry services.
Eligible medical providers:
• Physicians;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Nurse midwives;
• Physician’s assistants.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 7, July 1, 2012.
Eligible tele-psychiatry providers:
• Physicians;
• Advanced practice psychiatric nurse
practitioners;
• Advanced practice psychiatric clinical nurse
specialists;
• Licensed psychologists Ph.D level;
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW);
• Community diagnostic assessment agencies.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 7, July 1, 2012.
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
All services must be:
• Medically necessary;
• The procedure, product, or service is individualized,
specific, and consistent with symptoms or confirmed
diagnosis of the illness or injury under treatment, and
not in excess of the recipient’s needs;
• The procedure, product, or service can be safely
furnished, and no equally effective and more
conservative or less costly treatment is available
statewide;
• The procedure, product, or service is furnished in a
manner not primarily intended for the convenience of
the recipient, the recipient’s caretaker, or the provider.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 4, July 1, 2012.
Providers must obtain prior approval from NC Medicaid
for all services delivered via telemedicine and tele-
psychiatry. Providers must submit:
• Prior approval request;
• All health records and any other records to
document that the patient has met the specific
criteria for telemedicine services;
• If the patient is under age 21, information
supporting that all Medicaid Early and Periodic
Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT)
criteria are met, and evidence-based literature
supporting the request, if available.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 4-5, July 1, 2012.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
North Carolina Medicaid will not reimburse for Store and
Forward.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 4, July 1, 2012.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX Restrictions
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement FAX.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 4, July 1, 2012.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reimbursement if:
• The recipient is located in a jail, detention center, or
prison;
• The consulting provider is not a Medicaid-enrolled
provider;
• The consulting provider is not located in North
Carolina or within the 40 miles radius.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 5, July 1, 2012.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Originating-site provider facility fees paid to:
• Physicians;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Nurse midwives;
• Advanced practice psychiatric nurse
practitioners;
• Advanced practice psychiatric clinical nurse
specialists;
• Licensed psychologists (Ph.D. level);
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSW);
• Physician’s assistants;
• Hospitals (inpatient or outpatient)
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Local health departments;
• Local Management Entities.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 7, July 1, 2012.
No facility fees for distant-site providers.
Source: NC Div. of Medical Assistance, Medicaid and Health
Choice Manual, Clinical Coverage Policy No: 1H, Telemedicine
and Telepsychiatry, p. 4, July 1, 2012.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Miscellaneous
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
North Dakota
Medicaid Program: North Dakota Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: North Dakota Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
North Dakota uses federal definitions for "internet" and
No reference found.
"practice of telemedicine" set in the Ryan Haight Online
Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008.
Source: ND Century Code, Sec. 19-02.1-15.1.
“Telemedicine means the practice of medicine by a
practitioner, other than a pharmacist, who is at a location
remote from the patient, and is communicating with the
patient, or health care professional who is treating the
patient, using a telecommunications system.”
Source: Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act
of 2008 [Pub. L. 110-425; 21 U.S.C. 802-803].
Live Video Reimbursement
North Dakota’s Worker Compensation Act provides
North Dakota Medicaid will reimburse for live video
reimbursement for live video.
services as long as the patient is present during the
service.
Eligible services:
Source: ND Dept. of Human Svcs., General Information For
Providers, Medicaid and Other Medical Assistance Programs, p.
• Office or other outpatient visits;
129 (Apr. 2012).
• New evaluation visits and established
management visits;
Both originating-site and distant-site physicians may bill
• Individual psychotherapy visits;
for services. There is no separate reimbursement for
• Pharmacologic management visits.
supplies.
The patient must be present and participate in the
Source: ND Dept. of Human Svcs., General Information For
appointment.
Providers, Medicaid and Other Medical Assistance Programs, p.
129 (April 2012).
The professional fee is equal to comparable in-person
There is reimbursement for long-distance charges
services.
required for out-of-network sites.
Source: ND Admin. Code 92-01-02-34.
Source: ND Dept. of Human Svcs., General Information For
Providers, Medicaid and Other Medical Assistance Programs, p.
129 (April 2012).
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
North Dakota Medicaid does not reimburse for store and
forward.
Source: ND Dept. of Human Svcs., General Information For
Providers, Medicaid and Other Medical Assistance Programs, p.
129 (April 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reference found for FAX.
Source: ND Dept. of Human Svcs., General Information For
Providers, Medicaid and Other Medical Assistance Programs, p.
126 (April 2012).
Online Prescribing
A valid prescription via e-prescribing means a
No reference found.
prescription has been issued for a legitimate medical
purpose, in the usual course of professional practice, by
a practitioner who has first conducted an in-person
medical evaluation of the patient.
Source: ND Centennial Code, Sec. 19-02.1-15.1.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
The ND Medical Board may engage in reciprocal
No reference found.
licensing agreements with out-of-state licensing
agencies, but is not required to do so.
Source: ND Century Code Sec. 43-17-21 (2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
Under the Worker’s Compensation Act, the originating
No reference found.
sites may receive a facility fee, not to exceed $20.
Source: ND Admin. Code 92-01-02-34.
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Ohio
Medicaid Program: Ohio Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Ste. 110
Terre Haute, IN 47803
(855) 283-3734 ext. 232
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“The practice of telemedicine means the practice of
No reference found.
medicine in this state through the use of any
communication, including oral, written, or electronic
communication, by a physician located outside this
state.”
Source: OH Revised Code Annotated, 4731.296.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Ohio Medicaid will reimburse for live video for speech
therapy services in the Medicaid School Program (MSP)
when provided by speech-language pathologists.
Source: OH Dept. of Job and Family Svcs., Long Term Care
Services and Supports Transmittal Letter (LTCSSTL) No. 11-15,
(Oct. 19, 2011).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
A physician shall not prescribe, dispense, or provide any
No reference found.
dangerous drug, which is not a controlled substance, to
a person who the physician has never personally
physically examined and diagnosed.
Eligible exceptions:
• The physician is providing care in consultation
with another physician, who has an ongoing
professional relationship with the patient, and
who has agreed to supervise the patient’s use of
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the drug or drugs to be provided, and the
physician’s care of the patient meets all
applicable standards of care;
• In institutional settings;
• On-call situations;
• Cross-coverage situations;
• Situations involving new patients;
• Protocol situations;
• Situations involving nurses practicing in
accordance with standard care arrangements.
Source: OH Admin. Code 4731-11-09.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Ohio issues telemedicine certificates that allow the
No reference found.
holder to engage in the practice of telemedicine in the
state.
Providers with telemedicine certificates cannot practice
in OH without a special activity certificate.
Source: OH Revised Code Annotated, Sec. 4731.296(C).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Oklahoma
Medicaid Program: SoonerCare
Medicaid Program Administrator: Oklahoma Health Care Authority
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Heartland Telehealth Resource Center
3901 Rainbow Blvd MS 1048
Kansas City, KS 66160
(877) 643-4872
heartlandtrc.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telemedicine means the practice of health care
"Telehealth means the use of telecommunication
delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, including but
technologies for clinical care (telemedicine), patient
not limited to, the treatment and prevention of strokes,
teaching and home health, health professional education
transfer of medical data, or exchange of medical
(distance learning), administrative and program
education information by means of audio, video, or data
planning, and other diverse aspects of a health care
communications. Telemedicine is not a consultation
delivery system.”
provided by telephone or facsimile machine.”
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27.
Source: OK Statutes, Title 36, Sec. 6802.
"Telemedicine means the practice of health care
(also see Medicaid column)
delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the
transfer of medical data through interactive audio, video
or data communications that occur in the real-time or
near real-time and in the physical presence of the
member.”
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27 (b)(8).
Live Video Reimbursement
Oklahoma statute requires coverage of telemedicine
SoonerCare (Oklahoma’s Medicaid program)
services, which includes live video, by health care
reimburses for live video if the health care provider
service plans, disability insurer programs, workers’
determines the service to be appropriately provided via
compensation programs, and state Medicaid managed
telemedicine. This applies to health care service plans,
care program contracts, subject to contract terms and
disability insurer programs, workers’ compensation
conditions.
programs or state Medicaid managed care program
contracts.
Source: OK Statute, Title 36 Sec. 6803.
Eligible services:
(see Medicaid column & “Private Payers” section)
• Consultations;
• Office visits;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interview examinations
and testing;
• Mental health assessments;
• Pharmacologic management.
Eligible distant-site providers:
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• Physicians;
• Advanced registered nurse practitioners;
• Physician assistants;
• Genetic counselors;
• Licensed behavioral health professionals;
• Dieticians;
• An Indian Health Service facility, a Tribal health
facility or an Urban Indian (I/T/U) clinic with
specialty service providers as listed here.
Coverage of all telemedicine services is at the discretion
of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27.
Office and outpatient visits count toward benefit limits.
Source: OK Statute, Title 36 Sec. 6803.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
SoonerCare will reimburse for “conventional health care
delivery”, the service does not require face-to-face
contact between the patient and the provider.
Examples include:
• Tele-radiology;
• Tele-pathology;
• Fetal monitor strips;
• Physician interpretation of electrocardiogram
and electroencephalogram readings.
SoonerCare does not consider these services
telemedicine as defined by OHCA.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(e).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found for email.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: OK Statute, Title 36 St. Sec. 6802.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(d).
(also see Medicaid column)
Online Prescribing
Prescribing or administering a drug or treatment without
No reference found.
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sufficient examination and the establishment of a valid
physician-patient relationship is prohibited.
Source: OK Statute, Title 59, Sec. 509.
A physician-patient relationship includes an in-person
patient exam.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 435:10-1-4.
Consent
Written patient consent is required prior to the delivery of
Written consent required.
any telemedicine services. The provider who is in
physical contact with the patient shall obtain this
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(f)(6).
consent.
Source: OK Statute, Title 36 Sec. 6804.
(also see Medicaid column)
Location
No reference found.
Coverage is limited to rural or geographic areas where
there is a lack of local medical/psychiatric/mental health
expertise.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(c)(2).
Rural areas are defined as counties with fewer than
50,000 people.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(b)(5).
Eligible originating sites:
• Practitioner offices;
• Hospitals;
• Schools;
• Outpatient behavioral health clinics;
• Critical Access Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Indian Health Service, tribal health,or Urban
Indian facility (I/T/U).
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(c)(5).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services by health
No reference found.
care service plans, disability insurer programs, workers’
compensation programs, and state Medicaid managed
care program contracts, subject to contract terms and
conditions.
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Source: OK Statute, Title 36 Sec. 6803.
Site/Transmission Fee
(see Medicaid column)
Facility fee paid to originating site.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27.
No originating site fee for store and forward.
Source: OK Admin. Code Sec. 317:30-3-27(e).
Miscellaneous
OK provides, at no cost, one telecommunications line or
wireless connection for telemedicine services to the
following:
• Not-for-profit hospitals;
• County health departments;
• City-county health departments;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Source: OK Statutes, Title 17 Sec. 139.109.
Comments: The OK Dept. of Health has begun to develop a statewide telemedicine network.
Oklahoma Statutes, Title 63 Sec. 1-2702.
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
Oregon
Medicaid Program: Oregon Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Oregon Health Authority
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
Oregon law requires insurers to cover telemedicine
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information,
services.
exchanged from one site to another, via telephonic or
electronic communications, to improve a patient’s health
“Telemedical means delivered through a two-way video
status.”
communication that allows a health professional to
interact with a patient who is at an originating site.”
Source: OR Div. of Medical Assistance Program, Medical-Surgical
Svcs. Rulebook, Div. 130, 410-130-0610, p. 75 (Jan. 1, 2012).
Source: OR Revised Statutes Sec. 743A.058.
Live Video Reimbursement
Oregon statute requires coverage of telemedicine
Oregon Medicaid will reimburse for live video when
services (which includes live video), subject to contract
billed services comply with their billing requirements.
terms and conditions.
The referring provider is not required to be present with
Source: OR Revised Statutes Sec. 743A.058.
the client for the consult.
(See “Private Payers” section)
The referring provider may bill for the patient visit only if
a separately identifiable visit is performed.
Source: OR Div. of Medical Assistance Program, Medical-Surgical
Svcs. Rulebook, Div. 130, 410-130-0610, p. 77 (Jan. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Oregon Medicaid does not reimburse for store and
forward.
Source: OR Dept. of Human Svcs., Div. of Medical Assistance
Programs, Medical-Surgical Svcs. Rulebook, Div. 130, 410-130-
0610 (2)(a), p. 78 (Jul. 1, 2007).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
Oregon requires out of state physicians to acquire active
No reference found.
tele-monitoring status through the Oregon Medical
Board before they can perform intraoperative
telemonitoring on patients during surgery.
The Administrative Code defines ”tele-monitoring” as the
“intraoperative monitoring of data collected during
surgery and electronically transmitted to a physician who
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practices in a location outside of Oregon. The monitoring
physician is in communication with the operation team
through a technician in the operating room.”
Requirements:
• The facility where the surgery is performed must
be a licensed hospital or ambulatory surgical
center;
• The facility must grant medical staff membership
and/or clinical privileges to the monitoring
physician;
• The monitoring physician must have OR active-
telemonitoring status.
Source: OR Admin. Rules. 847-008-0023.
Email/Phone/FAX
Yes for email.
Yes for email and telephone when used for patient
Yes for telephone.
consulting and “when billed services comply with the
No reference found for FAX.
practice guidelines set forth by the Health Service
Commission (HSC), applicable HSC approved CPT
Email and telephone consults must comply with Health
code requirements and delivered consistent with the
Service Commission guidelines.
HSC practice guideline.”
Source: OR Admin. Rules 410-130-0610.
Email, telephone and fax may be used when
videoconferencing availability is limited.
Source: OR Div. of Medical Assistance Programs, Medical-
Surgical Svcs. Rulebook, Div. 130, 410-130-0610, p. 76 (Jan. 1,
2012).
Online Prescribing
A physician must first:
No reference found.
• Establish a physician-patient relationship;
• Make a judgment based on some type of
objective criteria upon which to diagnose, treat,
correct or prescribe;
• Act in the best interest of the patient.
Writing prescriptions based only on an Internet sale or
consults prohibited.
Source: OR Admin. Rules, 847-025-0000.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
Originating sites include but are not limited to:
No reference found.
• Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
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• Physician offices;
• Community mental health centers;
• Skilled nursing facilities;
• Renal dialysis centers;
• Sites where public health services are provided.
Source: OR Revised Statutes Sec. 743A.058.
Cross-State Licensing
Out-of-state physicians may receive a license to practice
The referring and evaluating practitioner must be
across state lines in Oregon, as long as they are fully
licensed to practice medicine within the state of Oregon
licensed in another state and meet certain requirements.
or within the contiguous area of Oregon and must be
enrolled as a Division of Medical Assistance Programs
Source: OR Revised Statutes Annotated Sec. 677.139.
(Division) provider.
(also see Medicaid column)
Source: OR Administrative Regulation 410-130-0610(2)(a).
Private Payers
Oregon requires coverage of telemedicine services,
No reference found.
subject to contract terms and conditions.
Plans may not distinguish between originating sites that
are rural and urban in providing coverage.
Source: OR Revised Statutes Sec. 743A.058.
A health benefit plan must provide coverage in
connection with the treatment of diabetes if:
• If coverage is provided for in-person services
• The service is medically necessary;
• The service relates to a specific patient; and
• One of the participants in the telemedical health
service is a representative of an academic
health center.
Source: OR Revised Statutes Sec. 743A.185.
Site/Transmission Fee
(see Medicaid column)
Oregon Medicaid will provide transmission fees for
originating sites.
Source: OR Admin. Regulation 410-130-0610(5).
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Pennsylvania
Medicaid Program: Pennsylvania Medical Assistance Program (MA)
Medicaid Program Administrator: Department of Public Welfare
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
No reference found.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Pennsylvania Medicaid will reimburse for live video for
specialty consultations.
Source: PA Ofc. of the Governor, Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Pennsylvania Medicaid will not reimburse for store and
forward.
Source: PA Ofc. of the Governor, Press Release, May 22, 2012.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
See “Comments” section below.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: PA Ofc.fice of the Governor, Press Release, May 22,
2012.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Pennsylvania issues extraterritorial licenses to
No reference found.
physicians residing or practicing in an adjoining state,
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near the Pennsylvania boundary, and whose practice
extends into Pennsylvania to practice in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania bases its granting of this license on the
availability of medical care in the area involved, and
whether the adjoining state extends similar privileges to
Pennsylvania physicians.
Source: PA Statutes Annotated, Title 63 Sec. 422.34(a) and (c)(2).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comments: A new 2012 Medicaid regulation requires that telemedicine consults be a two-way, real time
interactive communication and use, at a minimum, interactive audio and video equipment to connect
the patient and the physician at the distant site. It bars telephones and asynchronous “store and
forward” technology, such as FAX machines, email systems or remote patient monitoring devices.
PA also removed Medicaid requirement that the referring provider be present for consults, and will
allow patients to access the consult at either the originating site of the referring provider or other
participating providers.
Pennsylvania Department of Aging , Office of Long Term Aging, offers “TeleCare” services under the
Aging and Waiver program. “TeleCare” is a model of service that uses technology with services that
allows people with chronic conditions to remain independent. In-home technology is used to provide
services. Health status measuring and monitoring; activity and sensor monitoring; and medication
dispensing and monitoring are used in the program.
Source: PA Dept. of Aging, Office of Long Term Aging, APD #09-01-05, Oct. 1, 2009.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Rhode Island
Medicaid Program: Rhode Island Medical Assistance Program
Medicaid Program Administrator: Rhode Island Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
No reference found.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensure
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
1
Center for Connected Health Policy
South Carolina
Medicaid Program: South Carolina Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: South Carolina Health and Human Services Dept.
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Southeast Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box 1408
Waycross, GA 31501
(888) 138-7210
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
South Carolina law addresses telemedicine under
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information about a
veterinary services, stating, “telemedicine is an audio,
patient that is exchanged from one site to another via
video, or data communication of medical information.”
electronic communications to provide medical care to a
patient in circumstances in which face-to-face contact is
Source: SC Code Annotated Sec. 40-69-20.
not necessary.
In this instance, a physician or other qualified medical
professional has determined that medical care can be
provided via electronic communication with no loss in
the quality or efficacy of the care.
Electronic communication means the use of interactive
telecommunication equipment that typically includes
audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real-time
interactive communication between the patient and the
physician or practitioner at the referring site.
Telemedicine includes consultation, diagnostic, and
treatment services.”
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept., Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 130 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
South Carolina Medicaid will reimburse for live
telemedicine and tele-psychiatry.
Eligible services:
• Office or other outpatient visits;
• Inpatient consultation;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interview examination;
• Neurobehavioral status examination;
• Electrocardiogram interpretation and report only;
• Echocardiography.
Eligible services must meet these requirements:
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• The medical care is individualized, specific, and
consistent with symptoms or confirmed
diagnosis of the illness or injury under
treatment, and not in excess of the beneficiary’s
need;
• The medical care can be safely furnished, and
no equally effective and more conservative or
less costly treatment is available statewide.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept. Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 132 (Nov. 1, 2012).
These community mental health services are ineligible:
• Injectables;
• Crisis intervention (if there is no other MH staff
with the client);
• Group therapy and psychological testing which
require “hands-on” encounters.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept. Community Mental
Health Services Provider Manual, p. 95 (Apr. 1, 2012).
Distant site eligible, reimbursed providers:
• Physicians;
• Nurse practitioners.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept. Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 131 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
South Carolina Medicaid will not reimburse for store and
forward.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept. Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 130 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
Please see “Comments” section below.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept. Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 130 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Online Prescribing
Prior to prescribing drugs to a patient, physicians first
No reference found.
must establish a proper physician-patient relationship.
Requirements are:
• Personally performing and documenting an
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
appropriate history and physical examination,
making a diagnosis, and formulating a
therapeutic plan;
• Discussing with the patient the diagnosis and
the evidence for it, and the risks and benefits of
various treatment options;
• Ensuring the availability of the physician or other
coverage for the patient for appropriate follow-
up care.
Exceptions for prescribing for a patient whom the
physician has not personally examined include, but are
not limited to:
• Admission orders for a newly hospitalized
patient;
• Prescribing for a patient of another physician for
whom the prescriber is taking call;
• Prescribing for a patient examined by a licensed
advanced practice registered nurse, a physician
assistant or other authorized provider;
• Continuing medication on a short-term basis for
a new patient prior to the patient's first
appointment.
Prescribing drugs to individuals the physician has never
met based solely on answers to a set of questions, as is
common in Internet or toll-free telephone prescribing, is
prohibited.
Source: SC Admin. Regulations Annotated Sec. 81-28.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Eligible originating (referring) sites:
• Practitioner offices;
• Hospitals (inpatient and outpatient);
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Community mental health centers.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept., Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 130-31 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Distant (consultant) sites must be located in the SC
Medical Service Area, which is the state of SC and
areas in NC and GA within 25 miles of the SC border.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept., Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 130 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
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MEDICAID PROGRAM
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
The referring site is eligible to receive a facility fee.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs. Dept., Physicians Provider
Manual, p. 134 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Miscellaneous
Comments: In 2011, a new state law, SCSB 588, established a statewide system of stroke care. It requires the
Department of Health and Environmental Control to distribute to emergency medical services
providers a list of primary stroke centers, telemedicine stroke centers, and other certified programs.
The Bureau of Long Term Care Services offers Telemonitoring. The objectives of the
Telemonitoring service are to maintain and promote the health status of Medicaid home and
community-based waiver participants through medical telemonitoring of body weight, blood pressure,
oxygen saturation, blood glucose levels, and basic heart rate information.
Source: SC Health and Human Svcs., Bureau of Long Term Care Services,
<
Accessed Feb. 3, 2013.
4
Center for Connected Health Policy
South Dakota
Medicaid Program: South Dakota Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: South Dakota Dept. of Social Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine is the real time or near real time two-way
transfer of medical data and information between two
medical entities.
Medical data exchange can take the form of multiple
formats: text, graphics, still images, audio, and video.
The information/data exchange can occur in real time
(synchronous) through interactive video or multimedia
collaborative environments or in near real time
(ascynchronous) through so-called “store and forward”
applications such as email, fax, or phone-mail.”
Source: SD Medical Assistance Program, Professional Svcs.
Manual, p. 21 (Sept. 20, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
South Dakota Medicaid will reimburse for the following
services:
(also see Medicaid column)
• Consultation services;
• Follow-up office visits for established patients;
• Pharmacological management services by a
physician.
Coverage of telemedicine consults is treated like any
other consult service as defined in the Physician’s
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT).
Source (authorization and eligible services): SD Medical
Assistance Program, Professional Svcs. Manual, p. 21 (Sept. 20,
2012).
Source (pharmacological management): SD Administrative Rules
46:20:32:08.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
South Dakota Medicaid will reimburse for store and
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forward.
Source: SD Medical Assistance Program, Professional Svcs.
Manual, p. 21 (Sept. 20, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
Please see “Comments” section below.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
COMMENTS: South Dakota’s Department of Health and Human Services, Adult Services and Aging offers
reimbursement for a home based monitoring system that monitors an individual's clinical data daily;
such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature, weight and can be a medication
reminder depending on the unit available.
In addition to meeting other eligibility criteria, program specific eligibility for this service includes:
1. Either the individual’s inability to complete two activities of daily living without personal
assistance, standby assistance, supervision/cues and/or assistive devices;
2. Or the individual’s behavior poses a serious health or safety hazard to self and requires
substantial supervision due to a cognitive impairment; AND
3. The individual may have frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits, difficulty getting to a
medical facility, medical condition(s) which requires frequent monitoring and those who may live
alone in a rural setting where it is difficult to receive prompt medical care.
Program eligibility and individual need must be determined utilizing the South Dakota Assessment
prior to the authorization of services. Staff determine if Telehealth can be accessed through other
resources, such as Medicare, and is not available through any other funding source.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Once eligibility and need have been determined, Telehealth may be authorized for an individual
subject to the following guidelines:
• Telehealth becomes a part of the $750 per month maximum care plan.
• The Monitoring Unit* required by individual
o Initial set up fee;
o BASIC or Advanced Unit*; *Discuss with the provider the type of unit available. Some
providers may include the oximeter as a part of the Basic unit. An Advanced Unit may
include a glucometer or other such monitoring devices.
o Nurse Visit -- if required by client as a result of Telehealth monitoring.
• Household’s resources may not exceed $40,000 for an individual and $45,000 for a married
couple.
• Individual will participate in the cost of the program through the cost share process whether
offered as a single service or provided in combination with other ASA services.
Appropriate Individual:
Individuals must be cognitively alert to manage the system and their ability to operate the system
should be required as a result of the monitoring device. Disease management and improving client
outcomes is the goal of the service.
Individuals with the following health conditions are the most appropriate for Telehealth:
• Congestive Heart Failure or other heart conditions
• Diabetes
• Hypo/Hypertension
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Other precarious health conditions that can be monitored safely through the system.
Cost Share:
If Telehealth is provided in combination with any other ASA services, the individual will be informed
of the total cost of the services and asked to cost share towards the total amount.
Services NOT available with Telehealth:
• Purchase price of the equipment.
• Equipment available through other state or federal programs.
• Liability for equipment damage while in individual’s home.
Telehealth Monitoring:
• Clinical data to be reviewed daily by a licensed nurse.
• Monitoring system set up in eligible individual’s home by provider or trained technician.
• Training video may be available for identified staff, ASA or Provider, on how to set up equipment
or check it during a home visit.
• Follow up calls to identified resources/professionals by provider.
• Home visits by provider to reprogram the device or change the settings of the monitor as required
by the individual’s health status.
• Optional Nurse assessment if monitoring warrants a visit. If a nurse assessment is warranted, the
provider will:
o Assess the individual’s health status and document findings as an official part of the case file;
o Make recommendations to the ASA Specialist regarding the individual’s ability to remain at
home and the need for services;
o Identify nursing problems and establish a tentative nursing plan of care;
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Center for Connected Health Policy
o Assist in the development of the “Individual Care Plan” with the ASA Specialist and individual,
after the individual has been determined to be eligible;
o Review all prescription and over-the-counter medication (dosage, route, and frequency) taken
by the individual and any other nursing care needed by the client which can be verified by the
individual’s physician;
o Obtain a signed copy of the “Individual Care Plan” from the ASA Specialist;
o Complete documentation each time the client is provided nursing tasks;
o Provide nursing services in accordance with the individual’s needs and scope of nursing
license of the nurse providing care.
• Depending on Provider system used, there might be a website link that ASA Specialist and
authorized family and physician can access the clinical information.
• ASA Specialist may be provided with a monthly progress report of how the individual is doing.
Routinely an individual is not provided with a report unless there are clinical issues identified. The
Provider Nurse may be requested to call or send information in writing to the individual, or a family
member, on a routine schedule to provide an update. ASA Specialist should work closely with the
Telehealth provider to request this report as needed.
Source: SD Dept. of Social Services, Dept. of Adult Services & Aging, Telehealth Technology
<
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Center for Connected Health Policy
Tennessee
Medicaid Program: TennCare
Medicaid Program Administrator: Dept. of Human Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
South Central Telehealth Resource Center
4301 W. Markham St. #519
Little Rock, AR 72205
(855) 664-3450
learntelehealth.org
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telehealth is the use of electronic information and
telecommunication technologies to support clinical care
between an individual with mental illness and/or
substance abuse issues and a healthcare practitioner.”
“Telehealth systems provide a live, interactive audio-
video communication or videoconferencing connection
between the individual in need of services and the crisis
service delivery system.”
Source: TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Svcs., p.
4, (July 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
TennCare will reimburse for live video for crisis-related
services.
Source: TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Svcs., p.
4, (July 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
TennCare will not reimburse for store and forward based
upon definition of “telehealth systems” which describes it
as “live interactive video”,.
Source: TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Svcs., p.
4, (July 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Prior to online or telephone prescribing, providers must
No reference found.
document and:
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
• Perform an appropriate history and physical
examination;
• Make a diagnosis, consistent with good medical
care;
• Formulate a therapeutic plan and discuss it with
the patient;
• Ensure the availability for appropriate follow-up
care.
Source: TN Composite Rules & Regulations 0880-02-.14.
Consent
No reference found.
The patient must be informed and given an opportunity
to request an in-person assessment before receiving a
telehealth assessment.
This consent must be documented in the patient’s
record.
Source: TN Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Svcs., p.
8, (July 2012).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
Tennessee may issue telemedicine licenses to board-
No reference found.
certified physicians from out of state.
Source: TN Code Annotated Sec. 63-6-209(b).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Comment:
In 2011, Tennessee passed a Joint Resolution that encouraged the use and payment for telemedicine.
The resolution is not law and has no legal or binding power.
Tennessee 2011 Bill Text, House Joint Resolution 58.
2
Center for Connected Health Policy
Texas
Medicaid Program: Texas Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
TexLa Telehealth Resource Center
3601 4th Street, Ste. 2B440
Lubbock, TX 79430
(806) 743-4440 / (877) 391-0487
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
Telemedicine is “the use of health care information
“Telemedicine is defined as the practice of health-care
exchanged from one site to another via electronic
delivery by a provider who is located at a site other than
communications for the health and education of the
the site where the client is located. Telemedicine
individual or provider, and for the purpose of improving
requires the use of advanced telecommunications
patient care, treatment, and services.”
technology and is used for the purposes of evaluation,
diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.”
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 25 Sec. 412.303.
Source: TX Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, p. 1475 (Jan.
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
2013).
Telehealth is “the use of telecommunications and
"Telehealth service" means a health service, other than
information technologies for the exchange of information
a telemedicine medical service, that is delivered by a
from one site to another for the provision of speech-
licensed or certified health professional acting within the
language pathology or audiology services to an
scope of the health professional's license or certification
individual from a provider through hardwire or internet
who does not perform a telemedicine medical service
connection.”
and that requires the use of advanced
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 22 Sec. 741.1.
telecommunications technology, other than telephone or
facsimile technology, including:
• Compressed digital interactive video, audio, or
data transmission;
• Clinical data transmission using computer
imaging by way of still-image capture and store
and forward; and
• Other technology that facilitates access to
health care services or medical specialty
expertise.
Source: TX Government Code, Sec. 531.001.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
"Telemedicine medical service" means a health care
service that is initiated by a physician or provided by a
health professional acting under physician delegation
and supervision, that is provided for purposes of patient
assessment by a health professional, diagnosis or
consultation by a physician, or treatment, or for the
transfer of medical data, and that requires the use of
advanced telecommunications technology, other than
telephone or facsimile technology, including:
• Compressed digital interactive video, audio, or
data transmission;
• Clinical data transmission using computer
imaging by way of still-image capture and store
and forward; and
• Other technology that facilitates access to
health care services or medical specialty
expertise.
Source: TX Government Code, Sec. 531.001.
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Texas Medicaid reimbuses for live video for the following
services:
• Consultations;
• Office or other outpatient visits;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interviews;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Psychotherapy.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 1, Sec. 354.1432 & TX Govt. Code
Sec. 531.0216.
Eligible originating (patient) site providers:
• Physicians;
• Physician assistants;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Clinical nurse specialists;
• Outpatient hospitals.
Source: TX Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, p. 1476 (Jan.
2013).
There is distant-site physician reimbursement for
assessment and evaluation office visit if:
• A health professional under the physician’s
supervision is present with the patient for the
visit;
• The medical condition, illness, or injury for which
the patient is receiving the service is not likely,
within a reasonable degree of medical certainty,
to undergo material deterioration within the 30-
day period following the visit.
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: TX Govt. Code Sec. 531.0217.
Provider reimbursement must be the same as in-person
services.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 1 Sec. 355.7001.
Telemedicine services are not required if an in-person
consultation with a physician is reasonably available
where the patient resides or works.
Telemedicine providers must make a good-faith effort to
identify and coordinate with existing providers, to
preserve and protect existing health care systems and
medical relationships in an area.
With patient consent, the primary care provider must be
notified of the telemedicine medical service for the
purpose of sharing medical information.
Source: TX Govt. Code Sec. 531.0217.
A telepresenter who meets one of the qualifications
listed below must be at the patient site when the
service is provided via telemedicine:
• An individual who is licensed or certified in Texas to
perform health-care services and acting within the
scope of the individual’s licensure or certification
• A qualified mental health professional (QMHP)
Source: TX Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, p. 1476 (Jan.
2013).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Texas Administrative Code states that services provided
via telemedicine must be provided through direct “face-
to-face” interactive video communications”.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 1 Sec. 354.1432.
No reference found in current Medical Manual (Jan.
2013). However, the TX Government Code includes a
definition of “Telemedicine Medical Service” and
“Telehealth Services” which encompasses Store and
Forward, stating that it includes “clinical data
transmission using computer imaging by way of still-
image capture and store and forward”.
Source: TX Government Code, Sec. 531.001.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found in current Medical Manual (Jan.
2013). However, TX Government Code includes a
definition of Home telemonitoring service, stating that it
is “a health service that requires scheduled remote
monitoring of data related to patient’s health and
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
transmission of the data to a licensed home health
agency or a hospital”.
Source: TX Government Code, Sec. 531.001.
Email/Phone/FAX
For speech-language pathology and audiology, no
No reimbursement for email.
reimbursement for correspondence only, e.g., mail,
No reimbursement for telephone.
email, or FAX, although they may be adjuncts to tele-
No reimbursement for FAX.
practice.
No reimbursement for chart review.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 22, Sec. 741.214.
Source: TX Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, p. 1475 (Jan.
2013).
Online Prescribing
Treatment and consultation recommendations made in
No reference found.
an online setting, including issuing a prescription via
electronic means, will be held to the same standards of
appropriate practice as those in traditional in-person
clinical settings.
Online or telephone evaluations solely by questionnaire
are prohibited.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 22, Sec. 174.8.
Consent
Consent required prior to telemedicine or telehealth
No reference found.
services.
Either originating or distant site health professionals
shall obtain this consent.
Source: TX Occupational Code Sec. 111.002.
Location
(see Medicaid column
Originating (patient) sites must be located in rural or
underserved areas.
A rural area is defined as a county that is not included in
a metropolitan statistical area as defined by the U.S.
Office of Management and Budget, according to the
most recent U.S. Census Bureau population estimates.
An underserved area is an area that meets the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Service Index Primary
Care Underservice criteria.
Source: TX Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual, p. 1476 (Jan.
2013).
Eligible originating (patient) sites:
• State hospitals;
• State supported living centers.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Also eligible as an originating site if located in a rural or
underserved area OR if not in a rural or underserved
area, but the patient is under 21, receiving services from
a distant-site provider who is Board eligible in a
nationally recognized specialty or subspecialty, and who
is not a primary care provider:
• Physician offices;
• Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Intermediate care facilities for persons with
mental retardation (ICF/MR) that are not a state
supported living center;
• Community centers;
• Outreach sites associated with a community
centesr;
• Local health departments;
• Public health districts.
Source TX Admin. Code, Title 1, Sec. 354.1430.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
A telemedicine license may be issued for out of state
providers.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 22, Sec. 172.12 & TX Occupation
Code Section 151.056.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions.
Source: TX Insurance Code Sec. 1455.004.
Site/Transmission Fee
(see Medicaid column)
Telemedicine patient site locations are reimbursed a
facility fee.
Source: TX Admin. Code, Title 1 Sec. 355.7001.
Miscellaneous
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Allows reimbursement for live video telemedicine and
telehealth services to children with special health care
needs.
Source: TX Govt. Code Sec. 531.02162.
5
Center for Connected Health Policy
Utah
Medicaid Program: Utah Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Utah Dept. of Health
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Digital health service means the electronic transfer,
No reference found.
exchange, or management of related data for diagnosis,
treatment, consultation, educational, public health, or
other related purposes.”
Source: UT Code Annotated Sec. 26-9f-102.
Live Video Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Utah’s Medical Assistance Program recognizes
“communication by telemedicine as face to face contact
between a health care provider and a patient.”
Reimbursement may be based on:
• A monthly reimbursement rate;
• A daily reimbursement rate; or
• An encounter rate.
Source: UT Code Annotated Sec. 26-18-13.
There is also live video reimbursement for psychiatry.
Eligible services:
• Live video evaluations of rural residents,
conducted by a qualified prescriber, to
determine need for medication prescription;
• Pharmacologic management services for rural
residents, where distance and travel time
create difficulty with access.
No reimbursement for originating site providers.
Source: UT Div. of Medicaid and Health Financing, Utah Medicaid
Provider Manual, Mental Health Centers/Prepaid Mental Health
Plans, p. 16 (Oct 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
There is reimbursement in the UT Medicaid Telehealth
Skilled Nurse Pilot Project for Patients in Rural Areas.
Patient eligibility requirements:
• Reside in underserved rural areas;
• Would have to travel more than 50 paved road
miles to obtain these services in person;
• Be eligible for Medicaid coverage;
• Require medical monitoring for diabetes;
• Be willing and able to use required technology.
Home health agency service delivery requirements:
• The service is delivered through secure, HIPAA-
compliant transmission lines, and takes place
between the home health agency and the patient’s
home;
• Patient and provider are able to see and hear each
other in real time;
• An assessment at the patient’s home by a home
health agency registered nurse finds that the patient
is unable to leave the home; is suitable for
participation in the program; and requires at least
two skilled nursing home visits a week;
• Formulates a nursing care plan.
Source: UT Admin. Code R414-42-2.
Patients must need more than two home health agency
visits per week. Telehealth home health services are
limited to diabetic monitoring and education.
The agency must provide at least two in-person visits
per week by a home health nurse, and may use
telehealth home health services only as a supplement to
the in-person visits.
Source: UT Admin. Code R414-42-3.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Providers must first obtain information in the usual
No reference found.
course of professional practice that is sufficient to
establish a diagnosis, to identify conditions, and to
identify potential risks to the proposed treatment.
Internet-based questionnaires or interactions on toll-free
telephone numbers, when there exists no other bona
fide patient-practitioner relationship or bona fide referral
by a practitioner involved in an existing patient-
practitioner relationship, are prohibited.
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: UT Code Annotated Sec. 58-1-501.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
An out-of-state physician may practice without a Utah
No reference found.
license if:
• The physician is licensed in another state, with
no licensing action pending and at least 10
years of professional experience;
• The services are rendered as a public service
and for a noncommercial purpose;
• No fee or other consideration of value is
charged, expected or contemplated, beyond an
amount necessary to cover the proportionate
cost of malpractice insurance;
• The physician does not otherwise engage in
unlawful or unprofessional conduct.
Source: UT Code Annotated Sec. 58-67-305.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
If a hospital participates in telemedicine, it shall develop
and implement policies governing the practice of
telemedicine in accordance with the scope and practice
of the hospital.
These policies shall address security, access and
retention of telemetric data, and define the privileging of
all health professionals who participate in telemedicine.
Source: UT Code R432-100-32.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Vermont
Medicaid Program: Vermont Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: State Dept. of Vermont Health Access, under the Agency of Human Services.
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northeast Telehealth Resource Center
11 Parkwood Drive
Augusta, ME 04330
(207) 622-7566 / (800) 379-2021
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telemedicine means the delivery of health care
Telemedicine is defined in Act 107 as “…the delivery of
services such as diagnosis, consultation, or treatment
health care services…through the use of live interactive
through the use of live interactive audio and video over a
audio and video over a secure connection that complies
secure connection that meets Health Insurance
with the requirements the Health Insurance Portability
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.
and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law 104-191.
Telemedicine does not include the use of audio-only
Telemedicine does not include the use of audio-only
telephone, e-mail, or facsimile.”
telephone, e-mail, or facsimile.”
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 8 Sec. 4100k (2012).
Source: Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104 (Jan.
1, 2013).
Live Video Reimbursement
Private payers must reimburse for live video.
Live video is reimbursed.
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 8 Sec. 4100k (2012).
Originating site providers are required to document the
reason the service is being provided by telemedicine
(See “Private Payers” section)
rather than in person.
Source: Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104 (Jan.
1, 2013).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
Allows, but doesn’t require, reimbursement for tele-
No reimbursement for tele-ophthalmology or tele-
ophthalmology and tele-dermatology.
dermatology; no reference to other store and forward
technologies.
Allows payers to require the distant site provider to
document the reason the services are being provided by
Source: Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104 (Jan.
1, 2013).
store and forward.
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 8 Sec. 4100k (2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for telephone.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104 (Jan.
1, 2013).
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 8 Sec. 4100k (2012).
Online Prescribing
Providers may prescribe, dispense, or administer drugs
No reference found.
or medical supplies, or otherwise provide treatment
recommendations if they first examine the patient in
person, or by the use of instrumentation and diagnostic
equipment through which images and medical records
may be transmitted electronically.
Treatment recommendations made via electronic
means, including issuing a prescription via electronic
means, shall be held to the same standards of
appropriate practice as those in traditional provider-
patient settings.
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 18 Sec. 9361 (2012).
Consent
Originating site providers must obtain consent for store
No reference found.
and forward tele-ophthalmology or tele-dermatology.
Patients will be informed of the right to receive a consult
with the distant-site provider, and will receive one, upon
request, either at the time of the consult, or within a
reasonable time after notification of the results of the
initial consult.
Receiving tele-dermatology or tele-ophthalmology
services by store and forward shall not preclude a
patient from receiving real-time telemedicine, or face-to-
face services with the distant site provider at a future
date.
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 18 Sec. 9361 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
Originating site provider locations are limited to:
• Physician or practitioner’s office
• Hospital
• Critical access hospital (CAH)
• Rural health clinic
• Federally qualified health center
• Community mental health center
• Skilled nursing facility
• Hospital-based or CAH-based renal dialysis
center
Source: Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104-105
(Jan. 1, 2013).
Cross-State Licensing
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions.
Source: VT Statutes Annotated, Title 8 Sec. 4100k (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Allowed, but not required, for originating site providers.
Dept. of VT Health Access, Provider Manual, p. 104 (Jan. 1, 2013).
Miscellaneous
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Virginia
Medicaid Program: Virginia Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: State Dept. of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS)
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
Telemedicine services means the use of interactive
“Telemedicine is the real-time or near real-time
audio, video, or other electronic media used for the
exchange of information for diagnosing and treating
purpose of diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.
medical conditions. Telemedicine utilizes audio/video
‘Telemedicine services’ do not include an audio-only
connections linking medical practitioners in one locality
telephone, electronic mail message, or facsimile
with medical practitioners in another locality.”
transmission.”
Source: VA Dept. of Medical Assistant Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 38.2-3418.16 (2012).
Manual, Physician/Practitioner Manual, Covered Svcs. and
Limitations, p. 19 (Apr. 2, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
Virginia statute requires coverage of telemedicine (which
Yes, for all Medicaid recipients irrespective of fee-for-
includes live video) by private insurers, subject to their
service or managed care organization coverage.
terms and conditions.
Eligible services:
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 38.2-3418.16 (2012).
• Office visits;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Psychiatric diagnostic interview examinations;
• Pharmacologic management;
• Colposcopy;
• Obstetric ultrasound;
• Fetal echocardiography:
• Cardiography interpretation and report only;
• Echocardiography;
• Speech therapy services.
Eligible providers:
• Physicians;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Nurse midwives;
• Clinical nurse specialists;
• Clinical psychologists;
• Clinical social workers;
• Licensed professional counselors;
• Speech pathologists (speech therapy only).
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STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Source: VA Dept. of Medical Assistant Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Physician/Practitioner Manual, Covered Svcs. and
Limitations, p. 19 (Apr. 2, 2012).
Speech therapy reimbursement for the speech-language
pathologist at the remote location and a qualified school
aide with the child during the tele-practice session.
Source: VA Dept. of Medical Assistant Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Local Education Agency Provider Manual, Covered Svcs.
and Limitations, p. 13 (Oct. 24, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reimbursement for email.
No reference found.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 38.2-3418.16 (2012).
Online Prescribing
Practitioners prescribing controlled substances must
No reference found.
have a “bona fide” relationship with the patient.
Requirements:
• Obtaining a medical or drug history;
• Informing the patient about the benefits and
risks of the drug;
• Conducting a patient exam, either physically or
by the use of instrumentation and diagnostic
equipment, through which images and medical
records may be transmitted electronically.
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 54.1-3303.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
Requires coverage of telemedicine services, subject to
No reference found.
contract terms and conditions.
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Center for Connected Health Policy
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Reimbursement must be the same as in-person
services.
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 38.2-3418.16 (2012).
Site/Transmission Fee
Reimbursement allowed, but not required.
No reference found.
Source: VA Code Annotated Sec. 38.2-3418.16 (2012).
Miscellaneous
Comments: Virginia Medicaid is in the process of updating its telemedicine coverage, which will be issued as a
“Provider Memo”. Though not official yet, there is word that store and forward tele-dermatolgoy will be
reimbursed.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
Washington
Medicaid Program: Washington Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Washington State Health Care Authority
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“Telemedicine means the use of tele-monitoring to
“Telehealth is when a health care practitioner uses
enhance the delivery of certain home health skilled
interactive real-time audio and video
nursing services through:
telecommunications to deliver covered services that are
within his or her scope of practice to a client at a site
• The collection of clinical data and the
other than the site where the provider is located.”
transmission of such data between a patient at a
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
distant location and the home health provider
Guide, Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p.
through electronic processing technologies.
53 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Objective clinical data that may be transmitted
includes, but is not limited to, weight, blood
pressure, pulse, respirations, blood glucose,
and pulse oximetry;
• The provision of certain education related to
health care services using audio, video, or data
communication instead of a face-to-face visit.”
Source: WA Admin. Code Sec. 182-551-2010.
“Telehealth means providing physical therapy via
electronic communication where the physical therapist
or physical therapist assistant and the patient are not at
the same physical location.”
Source: WA Admin. Code Sec. 246-915-187.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Yes, for patients with fee-for-service coverage.
Eligible services:
• Consultations;
• Office or other outpatient visits;
• Psychiatric intake and assessment;
• Individual psychotherapy;
• Pharmacologic management.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
Guide, Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p.
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54 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Patients must be present and participate in the visit.
For patients with managed care plan coverage,
telehealth services will not be reimbursed separately. All
services must be arranged and provided by primary care
providers. It is not mandatory that the plan pay for
telehealth services.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
Guide, Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p.
53 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reimbursement.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider Guide,
Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p. 53 (Nov.
1, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
(see Medicaid column)
Yes for clients who have been diagnosed with an
unstable condition, and who may be at risk for
hospitalization or a more costly level of care.
Coverage is limited to one telemedicine interaction, per
patient, per day, based on the ordering licensed
practitioner's care plan.
Eligible services:
• Assessment and monitoring of clinical data
including, but not limited to, vital signs, pain
levels and other biometric measures specified in
the plan of care;
• Assessment of response to previous changes in
the plan of care;
• Detection of condition changes based on the
telemedicine encounter that may indicate the
need for a change in the plan of care.
• Implementation of a management plan
Source: WA Admin. Code Sec. 182-551-2125.
Ineligible services:
• Purchase, rental, repair, maintenance and
associated operating costs of telemedicine
equipment;
• Chronic long-term care skilled nursing visits or
specialized therapy visits for a medically stable
client when a long-term care skilled nursing plan
or specialized therapy plan is in place through
the Department of Social and Health Services,
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Aging and Disabilities Services Administration
(ADSA) or Division of Developmental Disabilities
(DDD);
•
Social work services;
•
Psychiatric skilled nursing services;
•
Pre- and post-natal skilled nursing services,
except those covered services mentioned
above;
•
Well-baby follow-up care;
•
Services performed in hospitals, correctional
facilities, skilled nursing facilities, or a residential
facility with skilled nursing available;
•
Home health aide services that are not provided
in conjunction with skilled nursing or specialized
therapy services;
•
Home health care for a medically stable client;
•
Skilled nursing visits for a client when a home
health agency cannot safely meet the medical
needs of that client within home health services
program limitations;
•
More than one of the same type of specialized
therapy and/or home health aide visit per day;
•
Any home health services covered by another
state agency;
•
Home health visits made without a written
physician order, unless the verbal order is
documented prior to the visit, and the document
is signed by the physician within 45 days of the
order being given.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
Guide, Home Health Svcs. (Acute Care Svcs.), p. 22 (Jan. 1, 2012).
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider Guide,
Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p. 53 (Nov.
1, 2012).
Online Prescribing
The WA Medical Quality Assurance Commission has
No reference found.
issued guidelines on the use of the Internet in medical
practices. A guideline does not have the force of law,
but can be considered by the Commission to be the
standard of practice in the state.
A documented patient evaluation, including history and
physical evaluation adequate to establish diagnoses and
identify underlying conditions and/or contra-indications
to the treatment recommended/provided, must be
obtained prior to providing treatment, including issuing
prescriptions, electronically or otherwise.
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Treatment and consultation recommendations made in
an online setting, including issuing a prescription via
electronic means, will be held to the same standards of
appropriate practice as those in in-person settings.
Treatment, including issuing a prescription, based solely
on an online questionnaire or consultation does not
constitute an acceptable standard of care.
Source: Washington Medical Quality Assurance Commission,
Guidelines for Appropriate Use of the Internet in Medical Practice,
04%20Appropriate%20Use%20of%20the%20Internet%20in%20Me
dical%20Practice.pdf)
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Eligible originating sites:
• Practitioner offices;
• Hospitals;
• Critical Access Hospitals;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
Guide, Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional vcs., p.
54 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
Out-of-state, licensed practitioners may deliver
No reference found.
telemedicine or telehealth services, as long as they do
not open an office or appoint a place of meeting patients
or receive calls within the state.
Source: Revised Code of WA Sec. 18.71.030 (2012).
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Facility fees for originating sites.
Source: WA State Health Care Authority, Medicaid Provider
Guide, Physician-Related Svcs./Health Care Professional Svcs., p.
54 (Nov. 1, 2012).
Miscellaneous
Physical Therapy
Licensed physical therapists and physical therapist
assistants may provide physical therapy via telehealth.
The clinical record must indicate that the physical
therapy occurred via telehealth.
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Source: WA Admin. Code Sec. 246-915-187.
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West Virginia
Medicaid Program: West Virginia Medicaid
Medicaid Program Administrator: Bureau for Medical Services, under the West Virginia Dept. of Health and
Human Resources
Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
PO Box. 800711
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0711
(434) 906-4960 / (855) MATRC4U
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
“The practice of telemedicine means the use of
“A tele-consultation is an interactive member encounter
electronic information and communication technologies
that meets specific criteria. This service requires the use
to provide health care when distance separates
of interactive telecommunications systems, defined as
participants. It includes one or both of the following:
multimedia communication equipment that involves at
least audio and video equipment, and which permits
1. The diagnosis of a patient within this state by a
two-way consultation among the member, consultant
physician located outside this state, as a result
and referring provider. Telephones, facsimile machines,
of the transmission of individual patient data,
and electronic mail systems do not qualify as interactive
specimens or other material by electronic or
telecommunication systems.”
other means from within this state to the
physician or his or her agent;
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
2. The rendering of treatment to a patient within
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
this state by a physician located outside this
(Jan. 16, 2012).
State as a result of transmission of individual
patient data, specimens or other material by
electronic or other means from within this State
to the physician or his or her agent.”
Source: WV Code Sec. 30-3-13.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
West Virginia Medicaid reimburses for live video
consultations for medical services and nutrition and
exercise services.
Requirements:
• The consult must involve real-time consultation
as appropriate for the member‘s medical needs,
and as needed to provide information to and at
the direction of the consulting physician;
• Coverage of consult is limited to members in
non-metropolitan statistical professional
shortage areas as defined by the Centers for
Medicare & Medicaid Services. The referring
provider must be located in the same non-
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metropolitan area;
• The referring provider may bill for an office,
outpatient, or inpatient evaluation and
management (E&M) service that precedes the
consultation, and for other Medicaid-covered
services the consultant orders, or for services
unrelated to the medical problem for which the
consult was requested. However, the referring
provider may not bill for a second visit for
activities provided during the consult;
• The consultant must be in control of the
member‘s medical examination, with the
referring provider participating, as needed. The
patient must be present in real time, and
telecommunication technology must allow the
consultant to conduct a medical exam;
• The consultan must provide the referring
physician with a written report;
• Separate payment is not made for the review
and interpretation of medical records;
• Coverage is limited to professional consultations
that meet the criteria.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
(Jan. 16, 2012).
Exercise and nutrition services may be delivered
through a single site, or between two sites, with a formal
agreement between the two parties.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter 527: Mountain Health Choices, p. 37 (Jan. 3,
2009).
For facility-based fitness centers/certified trainer
services, rural clinics may partner with a single-site
provider to utilize their professional services. Scheduled
appointments are then set up and video
teleconferencing is used to deliver services to the
member with at minimum a nurse present with the
member during the consultation.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter 527: Mountain Health Choices, p. 40 (Jan. 3,
2009).
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reimbursement, based upon definition of
teleconsultation, which describes it as using an
“interactive telecommunications system that allows a
“two-way consultation among the member, consultant
and referring provider”.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
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For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
(Jan. 16, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for FAX.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for email.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
(Jan. 16, 2012).
Online Prescribing
Prohibits providers from issuing prescriptions, via
No reference found.
electronic or other means, for persons without
establishing an ongoing physician-patient relationship,
wherein the physician has obtained information
adequate to support the prescription.
Exceptions:
• Documented emergencies;
• On-call or cross-coverage situations;
• Where patient care is rendered in consultation
with another physician who has an ongoing
relationship with the patient, and who has
agreed to supervise the patient's treatment,
including use of any prescribed medications.
Source: WV Code Sec. 11-1A-12.
Consent
No reference found.
No reference found.
Location
No reference found.
Limited to members in CMS-defined non-metropolitan
statistical professional shortage areas. The referring
provider must be located in the non-metropolitan area.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs., Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
(Jan. 16, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
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Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
No reimbursement. Patients may not be billed for these
fees.
Source: WV Dept. of Health and Human Svcs, Medicaid Provider
Manual, Chapter-519 Covered Svcs., Limitations, And Exclusions
For Practitioner Svcs. - Including Physicians, Physician
Assistants, And Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, p. 25
(Jan. 16, 2012).
Miscellaneous
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Wisconsin
Medicaid Program: Forward Health
Medicaid Program Administrator: Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center
University of Minnesota/Institute for Health Informatics
330 Diehl Hall
505 Essex Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
(888) 239-7092
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
No reference found.
“Telemedicine services (also known as "Telehealth") are
services provided from a remote location using a
combination of interactive video, audio, and externally
acquired images through a networking environment
between a member (i.e., the originating site) and a
Medicaid-enrolled provider at a remote location (i.e.,
distant site). The services must be of sufficient audio
and visual fidelity and clarity as to be functionally
equivalent to a face-to-face contact. Telemedicine
services do not include telephone conversations or
Internet-based communication between providers or
between providers and members.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.128 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Forward Health will reimburse for medical and
mental/behavioral health services via live video.
Eligible services:
• Office or other outpatient services;
• Office or other outpatient consults;
• Initial inpatient consults;
• Outpatient mental health services;
• Health and behavior assessment/intervention;
• End stage renal disease-related services;
• Outpatient substance abuse services.
Eligible providers:
• Physicians and physician clinics;
• Rural Health Centers;
• Federally Qualified Health Center;
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• Physician assistants;
• Nurse practitioners;
• Nurse midwives;
• Psychiatrists;
• Ph.D. psychologists.
Reimbursement is subject to the same restrictions as in-
person services.
Only one eligible provider may be reimbursed per
member per date of service (DOS), unless it is medically
necessary for the participation of more than one
provider.
Separate services provided by separate specialists for
the same patient at different times on the same date
may be reimbursed separately.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.128-129 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Providers may receive enhanced reimbursement for
pediatric services, for members 18 years old and under,
and for HPSA-eligible services.
HPSA-enhanced reimbursement is allowed when the
patient or the provider is located in a HPSA-designated
area.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.129-130 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Out-of-state providers, except border-status providers,
must obtain prior authorization (PA) before delivering
services to Wisconsin Medicaid members.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.129 (Nov. 30, 2012).
For mental/behavioral health services, BadgerCare Plus,
another plan under Forward Health, will reimburse
mental health and substance abuse services the same
way it reimburses for in-person.
BadgerCare Plus reimburses only one of the sites, not
both.
BadgerCare Plus will not accept claims from individual
professionals in private practice.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Adult Mental Health Day Treatment, p.239 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Please note: The same information is repeated in other
mental/behavioral health provider manuals.
Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reimbursement.
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Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.131 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email or Internet-based
communications.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reference found for FAX.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.128 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Consent
No reference found.
Providers should develop their own methods of informed
consent.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.129 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Location
No reference found.
No reference found.
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Reimbursement for originating site facility fees.
Eligible originating sites:
• Physician offices;
• Hospitals (inpatient or outpatient, excluding
emergency rooms);
• Any other appropriate place of service with
necessary equipment and staffing.
The originating site may not be an emergency room.
An originating site facility fee is not an RHC/FQHC
service, and may not be reported as an encounter on
cost reports. Any reimbursement for the originating site
facility fee must be reported as a deductive value.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
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Physician, p.130 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Outpatient hospitals will receive only a facility fee.
Wisconsin Medicaid will not separately reimburse the
rate-per-visit for that member, unless the patient receives
other covered services on the same date.
Source: WI Forward Health, Wisconsin Medicaid Provider Manual,
Physician, p.131 (Nov. 30, 2012).
Miscellaneous
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Wyoming
Program Name: Wyoming Medicaid
Administrator: Office of Equality Care, under the Wyoming Dept. of Health.
Regional Telehealth Resource Center:
Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
2900 12th Ave. N., Ste. 30W
Billings, MT 59101
(888) 662-5601
STATE LAW/REGULATIONS
MEDICAID PROGRAM
Definition of telemedicine/telehealth
"Telemedicine means the practice of medicine by
“Telehealth is the use of an electronic media to link
electronic communication or other means from a
beneficiaries with health professionals in different
physician in a location to a patient in another location,
locations.”
with or without an intervening health care provider.”
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 107 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Source: WY Statutes Sec. 33-26-102.
Live Video Reimbursement
No reference found.
Reimbursement is made for exams performed via a real-
time interactive audio and video telecommunications
system. The patient must be able to see and interact
with the off-site practitioner during the exam. A medical
professional is not required to be present with the clinet
at the originating site unless medically indicated.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 107-108 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Eligible providers:
• Physicians;
• Advanced practice nurses with a specialty of
psychiatry/mental health;
• Physician’s assistant;
• Psychologists and neuropsychologists;
• Mental health professionals (LCSW, LPC,
LMFT, LAT).
Mental health professionals cannot bill Medicaid directly,
but must provide services through a supervising
provider.
For end-stage renal disease-related services, there must
be at least one in-person exam per month of the vascular
access site.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 109 (Nov. 8, 2012).
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Store and Forward Reimbursement
No reference found.
Wyoming Medicaid states that reimbursement is made for
exams performed via a real-time interactive audio and
video.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 107-108 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Remote Patient Monitoring Reimbursement
No reference found.
No reference found.
Email/Phone/FAX
No reference found.
No reimbursement for email.
No reimbursement for telephone.
No reimbursement for FAX.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 108 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Online Prescribing
No reference found.
Prescribing a controlled substance through the Internet,
World Wide Web or any similar proprietary or common
carrier electronic system without a documented
physician-patient relationship is subject to review,
discipline and consequences to license.
Source: WY Statutes Annotated Sec. 33-26-402 (2012).
Consent
Written or oral consent required for physical therapy.
No reference found.
Source: Code of WY Rules 006-062-001 (2012).
Location
No reference found.
Eligible originating sites:
• Hospitals;
• Practitioner offices;
• Psychologists or neuropsychologists;
• Community mental health or substance abuse
treatment centers (CMHC/SATC);
• Advanced practice nurses with specialty of
psychiatry/mental health;
• Federally Qualified Health Centers;
• Rural Health Clinics;
• Skilled nursing facilities;
• Indian Health Services Clinics;
• Hospital-based or Critical Access Hospital-
based renal dialysis centers (including
satellites).
Independent renal dialysis facilities are not eligible
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originating sites.
A medical professional is not required to be present at
the originating site, unless medically indicated.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 107-8 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Cross-State Licensing
No reference found.
No reference found.
Private Payers
No reference found.
No reference found.
Site/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Yes, for originating site fees.
No reimbursement for transmission fees.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 109 (Nov. 8, 2012).
Miscellaneous
No reimbursement for patient attendants who instruct
the patient on the use of equipment or pervises/monitors
a patient during the telehealth encounter.
No reimbursement for consults between health
professionals.
Source: WY Dept. of Public Health Insurance, Medicaid, General
Provider Information, p. 109 (Nov. 8, 2012).
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Glossary
Asynchronous (see also Store and Forward) technologies allow for the electronic
transmission of medical information, such as digital images, documents, and pre-recorded
videos. Asynchronous transmissions typically do not occur in real time, and take place
primarily among medical professionals, to aid in diagnoses and medical consults, when live
video or face-to-face patient contact is not necessary.
Broadband refers to the wide bandwidth characteristics of a transmission medium, and its
ability to transport multiple signals and traffic types simultaneously. Broadband is often used
to transmit telehealth and telemedicine services.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that administers the
Medicare, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Children’s Waiver Services Program is a federal program that provides Medicaid-funded
home and community-based services to children under age 18 who are eligible for, and at risk
of, placement into an Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MR).
Consultant Site (see also Hub Site or Distant Site) is the site at which the provider delivering
a telehealth service is located.
Critical Access Hospital (CAH) is a rural community hospital that receives cost-based
reimbursement. The reimbursement that CAHs receive is intended to improve their financial
performance and reduce hospital closures.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Code is a medical billing and administrative code
set that describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services. It is designed to communicate
uniform information about medical services and procedures among physicians, coders,
patients, accreditation organizations and payers for administrative, financial and analytical
purposes.
Distant Site (see also Hub Site or Consultant Site) is the site at which the provider delivering
a telehealth service is located.
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is any medical equipment, such as wheelchairs used in
the home.
Echocardiography is a sonogram of the heart.
Echography is a radiologic procedure in which deep structures of the body are recorded with
ultrasonic waves.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a test of the electrical activity of the heart, which helps detect
medical problems such as heart attacks and arrhythmias.
E-Prescribing is the act of offering medical prescriptions over the Internet. Often, e-
prescriptions must be accompanied by a valid physician-patient relationship, which may or
may not require a face-to-face interaction between the physician and patient, depending on
the state.
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Facility Fee (see also Originating Site Fee) is a fee paid to the originating site to compensate
for the cost of facilitating a telemedicine visit.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are federally designated facilities, which
provide primary care and other medical services to underserved populations.
Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) are designated by the Health Resources and
Services Administration as having shortages of primary medical care, dental or mental health
providers and may be geographic (a county or service area), demographic (low income
population) or institutional (comprehensive health center, federally qualified health center or
other public facility).
Hub Site (see also Distant Site or Consultant Site) is the site at which the provider delivering
a telehealth service is located.
Informed Consent refers to providers obtaining permission from a patient to perform a
specific test, procedure, or in the case of telehealth, service delivery method. Informed
consent means that the patient understands the relevant medical facts and risks involved.
Live Video Conferencing (see also Synchronous) refers to the use of two-way interactive
audio-video technology to connect users, in real time.
Medicaid is a program that provides medical coverage for people with lower incomes, older
people, people with disabilities, and some families and children. Learn more about the
program in this section.provides medical coverage and long-term medical care to low-income
residents. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and individual states, and is
administered by the states.
Medicaid Provider Manual is a document released by each state’s Medicaid agency, which
serves as the reference document for its Medicaid program.
Medically Underserved Area (MUA) may be a whole county or a group of contiguous
counties, a group of county or civil divisions or a group of urban census tracts in which
residents have a shortage of personal health services.
Medicare is a health insurance for people age 65 or older, people under 65 with certain
disabilities, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease. (ESRD is permanent
kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.)
Modifier is a two-digit code that is added to medical procedure codes, to provide additional
information about the billed procedure. In some cases, addition of a modifier can directly
affect payment.
Modifier GQ is the modifier for store and forward technologies.
Modifier GT is the modifier for live video conferencing.
Originating Site (see also Spoke Site or Referring Site) is the location of the patient receiving
a telehealth service.
Originating Site Fee (see also Facility Fee) is a fee paid to the originating site to compensate
for the cost of facilitating a telemedicine visit.
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Referring Site (see also Spoke Site or Originating Site) is the location of the patient receiving
a telehealth service.
Remote Patient Monitoring Remote patient monitoring uses telehealth technologies to
collect medical data, such as vital signs and blood pressure, from patients in one location and
electronically transmit that information to health care providers in a different location. The
health professionals monitor these patients remotely and, when necessary, implement
medical services on their behalf.
Rural Health Clinic is a clinic in a rural, medically underserved area that has a separate
reimbursement structure from the standard medical office under the Medicare and Medicaid
programs.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is a facility that houses chronically ill, usually elderly patients,
and provides long-term nursing care, rehabilitation, and other services.
Spoke Site (see also Originating Site or Referring Site) is the location of the patient receiving
a telehealth service.
Store and Forward (see also Asynchronous) technologies allow for the electronic
transmission of medical information, such as digital images, documents, and pre-recorded
videos. Asynchronous transmissions typically do not occur in real time, and take place
primarily among medical professionals, to aid in diagnoses and medical consults, when live
video or face-to-face patient contact is not necessary.
Synchronous (see also Live Video Conferencing) refers to the use of two-way interactive
audio-video technology to connect users, in real time, for any type of medical service.
Tele-pharmacy involves a pharmacist in one location directing the dispensing of a
prescription to another employee in a separate location.
Tele-presenter is a health professional who sits in the exam room with patients during
telemedicine visits and assists the distant-site provider.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of national
standards, which includes security and privacy of health data for electronic health care
transactions, and national identifiers for providers, health insurance plans and employers.
The program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides comprehensive long-
term services and support to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries.
Transmission Fee is a fee paid to telemedicine providers for the cost of telecommunications
transmission.
3
Center for Connected Health Policy
The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is a
non-profit, non-partisan organization working to
integrate telehealth technologies into the U.S. health
care system.
Telehealth technologies are tools to improve health
outcomes and access to care, particularly among
medically underserved communities, and to make
the nation’s health care system more efficient and
cost-effective.
CCHP advocates for policies that expand the adoption
and use of telehealth services, conducts objective
policy analysis and research, develops non-partisan
policy recommendations, and operates telehealth
demonstration projects.
CCHP conducts work specific to California, and is also
the federally designated National Telehealth Policy
Resource Center. In its national work, CCHP provides
technical assistance in telehealth policy to 12 Regional
Telehealth Resource Centers nationwide and serves as
a national resource on telehealth policy issues.
CCHP was created in 2008 by the California HealthCare
Foundation; the foundation remains its lead funder.
CCHP is a program of the Public Health Institute.
Center for
Connected
Health Policy
The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center program
is made possible by Grant #G22RH20214 from the Office
for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources
and Services Administration, DHHS.