Raised Bill No. 401, introduced to the Committee on INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE, aims to amend current laws to include telehealth providers in the criteria for determining network adequacy for health carriers. The bill, effective July 1, 2024, mandates that health carriers maintain networks with sufficient numbers and types of providers, including those offering telehealth services, to ensure that covered benefits are accessible without unreasonable travel or delay. It also extends the period for certain telehealth provisions, initially set to expire on June 30, 2024, to June 30, 2029. The bill outlines requirements for telehealth providers, such as using appropriate technology, accessing patient medical history, adhering to standard care, and providing licensing and contact information to patients. It also addresses the prescription of controlled substances, the disclosure of telehealth records to primary care providers with patient consent, and the documentation of patient consent for telehealth services. Notably, the bill includes deletions of previous legal language and insertions of new provisions to update and extend telehealth regulations.

Furthermore, the bill extends the period during which telehealth providers can use any information or communication technology in line with the Office for Civil Rights' modifications to HIPAA rules, from May 10, 2021, to June 30, 2029. It prohibits telehealth providers from charging facility fees for services within this period and requires them to accept Medicare reimbursement rates or in-network amounts as full payment, depending on the patient's health coverage. Providers can offer services from any location, subject to federal requirements, and Connecticut entities must verify the good standing and appropriate insurance of out-of-state telehealth providers. The Commissioner of Public Health is authorized to waive or modify regulatory requirements to facilitate telehealth services by out-of-state practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also amends public acts to extend the requirement for health insurance policies to cover telehealth services to the same extent as in-person services until June 30, 2029. It allows physicians and advanced practice registered nurses to issue medical marijuana certifications and provide follow-up care via telehealth until the same date, and exempts practitioners from demonstrating technological capacity for electronically transmitted prescriptions if they meet amended definitions and requirements.