Substitute House Bill No. 5198, Public Act No. 24-110, is an act that updates the definition and regulations surrounding telehealth services. The bill defines "telehealth" as the delivery of health care services through information and communication technologies, excluding facsimile, audio-only telephone, texting, or electronic mail. It specifies various terms related to telehealth, such as "asynchronous," "synchronous," and "store and forward transfer," and expands the definition of "telehealth provider" to include a wide range of licensed health care professionals. The bill sets conditions for providing telehealth services, including the use of appropriate technology, access to medical history, and adherence to the standard of care. It also extends the inclusion of certain out-of-state mental or behavioral health care providers until June 30, 2025, and requires them to register with the Department of Public Health.

The bill prohibits the prescription of schedule I, II, or III controlled substances through telehealth, with some exceptions, and mandates patient consent for treatment and record sharing. Telehealth providers are prohibited from charging facility fees and must disclose service costs to patients, accepting various forms of payment, including Medicare reimbursement or a mutually agreed amount. The bill allows telehealth providers to offer services from any location and requires Connecticut entities to verify the credentials of out-of-state telehealth providers. It also requires the Commissioner of Public Health to issue decisions on provider applications within 45 days and ensures telehealth providers are reimbursed at the same rate as in-person services. The bill includes insertions to define a broad range of telehealth providers and mandates data collection and reporting by the Department of Public Health, with an effective date of July 1, 2024, and repeals certain sections of public act 21-9 and section 19a-906a of the general statutes.

Statutes affected:
PH Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 124:
File No. 641:
Public Act No. 24-110: