HF2172

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to extend medical assistance coverage in Minnesota to include audio-only telehealth services. This bill aims to ensure that patients can still access healthcare consultations even when video capabilities are not available, allowing better access to medical care for individuals who rely on telehealth.

Main Provisions

• Telehealth Coverage Expansion: The bill expands the definition of telehealth services to include audio-only communication between patients and healthcare providers for a specified period, from July 2025 to July 2028.
• Criteria for Telehealth Delivery: Healthcare providers must adhere to specific criteria to ensure safety and quality in telehealth services. Providers need to identify services offered, maintain updated policies, ensure patient safety, and have quality assurance processes.
• Documentation Requirements: Providers must document telehealth services, including the type of service, duration, rationale for telehealth use, mode of transmission, and locations of both the patient and the provider.
• Reimbursement Policies: Telehealth services provided via audio and visual means or accessible video-based platforms can satisfy face-to-face requirements necessary for reimbursement from certain clinics like federally qualified health centers or certified community behavioral health clinics.
• Definitions: The bill defines terms such as telehealth, health care provider, and technologies involved in telehealth, clarifying what falls within the scope of covered telehealth services.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill temporarily allows audio-only communication to be considered as part of telehealth services, which was previously not included, thereby expanding access and coverage for services delivered in this manner.
• The bill ensures that specific telehealth services are reimbursed the same as in-person services, promoting broader acceptance and use of telehealth.

Relevant Terms

• Telehealth
• Audio-only communication
• Medical assistance
• Healthcare provider
• Face-to-face requirement
• Reimbursement
• Quality assurance
• Patient safety