The bill, SB 66, focuses on the regulation and provision of telehealth services, set to take effect on January 1, 2024. It mandates the creation of a patient record for each telehealth encounter and expands the definition of "behavioral health services" to include community psychiatric support and psychosocial rehabilitation services provided by unlicensed behavioral health providers working for licensed agencies. The bill also requires state agencies and licensing boards to promulgate rules for telehealth, removing the previous limitation that these rules cannot be more restrictive than existing provisions. Additionally, it prohibits the requirement for an in-person patient history or physical examination before a telehealth encounter, except when prescribing controlled substances.

The Conference Committee Report adopts several House amendments while rejecting others, including the removal of the effective date and a contingency clause related to another bill, HB 648. The proposed law updates references from telemedicine to telehealth and retains existing definitions and provisions while making technical changes to ensure clarity and compliance with the new regulations. Overall, the bill aims to enhance access to healthcare services through telehealth while ensuring appropriate regulatory oversight.

Statutes affected:
SB66 Original: 22:11(C)(1), 22:1821(F)(1), 22:1841(3), 22:1842(A)(1), 22:1843(A)(2), 28:53(B)(1), 28:53(B)(4), 28:53(F), 28:53(G)(7), 37:1262(4), 37:1(A), 37:1(A)(2), 37:2(D)(2), 40:1046(K), 40:2(B), 40:2(6), 40:4(E), 40:2(3), 40:3(3), 40:4(A), 40:1(A)(9), 40:1(A)(6), 46:1(2), 22:1841(6)
SB66 Engrossed: 22:11(C)(1), 22:1821(F)(1), 22:1841(3), 22:1842(A)(1), 22:1843(A)(2), 28:53(B)(1), 28:53(B)(4), 28:53(F), 28:53(G)(7), 37:1262(4), 37:1(A), 37:1(A)(2), 37:2(D)(2), 40:1046(K), 40:2(B), 40:2(6), 40:4(E), 40:2(3), 40:3(3), 40:4(A), 40:1(A)(9), 40:1(A)(6), 46:1(2), 22:1841(6)
SB66 Reengrossed: 28:53(B)(1), 28:53(B)(4), 28:53(F), 28:53(G)(7), 37:1262(4), 37:1(A), 37:1(A)(2), 37:2(D)(2), 40:1046(K), 40:2(B), 40:2(6), 40:4(E), 40:2(3), 40:3(3), 40:4(A), 40:1(A)(9), 40:1(A)(6), 46:1(2), 22:1841(6)
SB66 Enrolled: 22:11(C)(1), 22:1821(F)(1), 22:1841(3), 22:1842(A)(1), 22:1843(A)(2), 28:53(B)(1), 28:53(B)(4), 28:53(F), 28:53(G)(7), 37:1262(4), 37:1(A), 37:1(A)(2), 37:2(D)(2), 40:1046(K), 40:2(B), 40:2(6), 40:4(E), 40:2(3), 40:3(3), 40:4(A), 40:1(A)(9), 40:1(A)(6), 46:1(2), 22:1841(6)
SB66 Act 322: 22:11(C)(1), 22:1821(F)(1), 22:1841(3), 22:1842(A)(1), 22:1843(A)(2), 28:53(B)(1), 28:53(B)(4), 28:53(F), 28:53(G)(7), 37:1262(4), 37:1(A), 37:1(A)(2), 37:2(D)(2), 40:1046(K), 40:2(B), 40:2(6), 40:4(E), 40:2(3), 40:3(3), 40:4(A), 40:1(A)(9), 40:1(A)(6), 46:1(2), 22:1841(6)