Insurance and Real Estate Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-1022
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING TELEHEALTH.
Vote Date: 3/22/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/15/2021
File No.: 366
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Insurance and Real Estate Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
SB 1022 will ensure proper, permanent insurance coverage for telehealth visits, which allow
more people to receive necessary healthcare with fewer obstacles. The purpose of the bill is
to: (1) define, and redefine, various terms concerning telehealth; (2) expand the variety of
health care providers who may provide telehealth services and the circumstances under
which such providers may provide such services; (3) provide that a telehealth provider (A)
may only provide a telehealth service to a patient when such provider has determined
whether (i) the patient has health coverage that is fully insured, not fully insured or provided
through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program, and (ii) the patient's health
coverage, if any, provides coverage for such service, (B) who is an in-network provider, or
enrolled in the Connecticut medical assistance program and provides telehealth services to a
Connecticut medical assistance program recipient, may use any information or
communication technology in accordance with the directions, modifications or revisions, if
any, made by the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services to the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 P.L. 104-191, as amended from time to time, or the rules and regulations adopted
thereunder, (C) who provides health care or health services to a patient through telehealth
shall (i) accept, as full payment for such care or services, the amount that (I) Medicare
reimburses for such care or services if such provider determines that the patient does not
have health coverage for such care or services, or (II) the patient's health coverage
reimburses, and any cost-sharing, for such care or services if such provider determines that
the patient has health coverage for such care or services, and (ii) offer to the patient financial
assistance if such provider (I) is required to offer such assistance, and (II) determines that
such patient is unable to pay for such care or services, and (D) may provide telehealth
services from any location; (4) require any Connecticut entity or institution that, or health care
provider who, engages or contracts with a telehealth provider who is licensed, certified or
registered in another jurisdiction (A) verify such telehealth provider's credentials, (B) ensure
that such telehealth provider is in good standing, and (C) confirm that such telehealth
provider maintains liability insurance or other indemnity; (5) authorize the Commissioner of
Public Health to temporarily waive, modify or suspend certain regulatory requirements; (6)
expand required health insurance coverage for services provided through telehealth under
certain individual and group health insurance policies and restrict a telehealth provider's
ability to collect certain payments from insureds under such policies; and (7) provide that no
health carrier shall reduce any reimbursement paid to a telehealth provider for covered health
care or health services that such provider appropriately provided to an insured through
telehealth because such provider provided such care or services through telehealth.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Ted Doolittle, Connecticut Advocate, Office of the Healthcare Advocate: Mr. Doolittle
noted he is in support of the bill, but warned that telehealth providers may use the language
of the bill to justify unreasonably high prices
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Several community members, including many healthcare professionals, testified on the
benefits of telehealth and the importance of allowing telehealth to continue after the
pandemic:
Dr. Andrew Agwunobi, CEO, UConn Health
Meredith Bailey, Owner, Serenity Wellness
Dr. Ralph Balducci, Licensed Psychologist
Kimberley L. Beauregard, CEO, InterCommunity Health Care
Susan Bernstein, Social Worker
Meg Bishop, Per Diem Clinician, UConn
Roseann Bonatakais, Licensed Behavior Analyst
Marcia Borenstein, Clinical Social Worker
Cara C. Buciak, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Thomas Burr, Community and Affilates Relations Manager, NAMI Connecticut
Dr. Megan Butler, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dan Keenan, Vice President for Advocacy and Government Relations, Trinity Health of
New England
Kristina J. Chomick, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Sandra Christianson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Satina Conforti, Licensed Professional Counselor
Betina M. Cornwall, Board Certified Behavioral Analyst
Cheryl Cote, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Anna Davenport, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Dr. Mimi DeLessio-Matta, President-Elect, Connecticut State Dental Association
Dr. Jennifer M. Doran, President, Connecticut Psychological Association
Marcia DuFore, Executive Director, Amplify Inc.
Dr. Kathleen Dyer, Licensed Behavioral Analyst
Dr. AJ Eckert and Layne Gianakos, Anchor Health
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 Robin Entress, Director of Community and Home-Based Services, Community Child
Guidance Clinic
Barbara Esposito, Licensed Psychiatric APRN
Stephen Eversole, CT Resident
Jorge Fernandez, Psychotherapist
Lauren Fischer, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Kathleen Flaherty, Executive Director, CT Legal Rights Project Inc.
Kristine Fornaby, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Ashley Starr Frechette, Director of Health Professional Outreach, CT Coalition Against
Domestic Violence
Tanesha Freeman-Kerr, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Laura Galindo, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Shauna Giannuzzi, Licensed Behavioral Analyst
Carl D. Gross, Past President, CT Council of Administrators in Special Education
Dyana Hagen, Manager, Common Ground Learning Center and Social Rehabilitation
Club
Kimberly Harrison, Hartford HealthCare
Allen Hindin, Dentist
Catherine Kimball, Licensed Professional Counselor
Tam Le, President, Connecticut State Dental Association
Sara LeMaster, Manager of Governmental Relations and Public Policy, Community
Health Center Association of Connecticut
Lois Longwell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Celeste E. Mattingly, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Dr. John J. Mooney, Dentist
Emily Morrison, Director of Development, United Services Inc.
Lorraine L. Plante, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Jennifer Ralph, Licensed Professional Counselor
Nancy Randall, Licensed Psychologist
Joanne Reinhardt, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Dr. Richard Riddle, Dentist
Ben Shaiken, Manager of Advocacy and Public Policy, CT Community Nonprofit
Alliance
Kathleen Silard, Stamford Health
Rachel Stephen and Ramary Figueroa, Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Erica Stevenson, Therapist
Elaine Wilkinson, Licensed Master Social Worker
Tracy Wodatch, CT Association for Healthcare at Home
Dr. Sarah L. Evans Zalewski, President-Elect, CT Counseling Association
Jordan Ziel, CT Resident
Several community members, including dentists and dental hygienists, testified in support of
the bill but suggested an amendment to include dental hygienists in telehealth coverage:
Ellen W. Adler, Chair Council of Regulation and Practice, American Dental Hygienists
Association (CT)
Maria Cholewinski, President, American Dental Hygienists Association (CT)
Page 3 of 4 SB-1022
 Cherell Crooms, Dential Hygienist
Dr. Daniel Faber, Dentist
Pareesa Charmchi Goodwin, Executive Director, CT Oral Health Initiative Inc.
Marion C. Manski, Legislative Chair on Board of Trustees, American Dental Hygienists
Association (CT)
Connecticut Hospital Association: expressed support of the bill, but requested that in
section 19a-906, subsection (c) be changed to allow a practitioner to use telemedicine to
conduct the exam necessary to prescribe a schedule II drug test, and subsection (k) be
removed so that CT patients can be served through telemedicine only by CT healthcare
professionals.
Trisha Farmer, Vice President of Regional Partnerships and Operations, Connecticut
Childrens: Ms. Farmer noted she is in support of the bill, but shared some concerns about
the language. She advises that Section 1-(b) be changed because patients often know more
about service coverage than their providers. She requested that Section 1-(i) be changed so
that the amount charged is not bound to Medicare rates, and she urges legislators to adopt
reimbursement rate parity for telemedicine and in-person visits.
Stephen Wanczyk-Karp, Executive Director, National Association of Social Workers
(CT): Mr. Wanczyk-Karp testified in support of the bill, but suggested an amendment to make
the bill apply to both in-network and out-of-network providers.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Jennifer Brett, Director, University of Bridgeport Acupuncture Institute: Ms. Brett
expressed that many acupuncturists provide services that can be done remotely, so licensed
acupuncturists should be included in telehealth coverage.
Dr. Matthew DiMond, Assistant Professor of Clinical Services, University of Bridgeport:
Dr. DiMond testified that chiropractors should be included in telehealth coverage.
Chris Gargamelli, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association: Mr. Gargamelli
expressed that CT is one of only 4 states that do not define a veterinary-client-patient-
relationship (VCPR), and this endangers patients because it allows CT pets to be treated by
veterinarians neither located in nor licensed in CT. Owners and animals in that situation are
not protected by the regulations of the Connecticut Board of Veterinary Medicine. He
recommends an amendment to define a VCPR.
Jessica Wysocki, Connecticut Resident: Ms. Wysocki noted that health issues cannot be
properly addressed through telemedicine and the legislature should not be involved in
deciding what situations require in-person visits. She also testified that the legislative process
moves too quickly and public hearings should not be held at overlapping times. She also
testified that the current online functioning of government is illegal.
Reported by: Mallory Ferrick Date: April 27, 2021
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Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
INS Joint Favorable:
File No. 366: