Telehealth provisions made to expand access to medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic may become permanent as the result of a bill before the House of Representatives.
Currently, expansions to telehealth coverage made during the pandemic will sunset on June 30. Expansions currently set to expire include providers’ ability to provide telehealth services using audio-only phones and to provide telehealth services from any location.
HB 5198, a joint favorable substitute voted unanimously out of the Public Health Committee, would also preserve the ability to practice via telehealth in Connecticut but would eliminate the requirement that they do so with an order from the Department of Public Health (DPH).
While the bill would eliminate the DPH commissioner’s authority to issue an order authorizing out-of-state telehealth providers to offer services in Connecticut, it does not eliminate the commissioner’s ability to revoke or suspend the licenses of out-of-state providers to practice in the state if they violate any statutory requirements DPH imposes.
The bill would also expand the list of providers able to provide telehealth services to include art therapists, athletic trainers, behavior analysts, dentists, genetic counselors, music therapists, nurse midwives, physician assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and physical therapy assistants.
In-state providers or institutions that contract with out-of-state telehealth providers would be required to verify that provider’s credentials are in good standing in their state of residence and also confirm that they have professional liability or malpractice insurance of the same amount required for Connecticut providers.
Telehealth providers must also determine whether a patient has health insurance for the services for which they are seeking treatment before they offer their services.
All provisions within the bill would go into effect immediately upon passage.
The original raised bill would have extended existing telehealth expansions through June 30, 2027. It received support from several state authorities and a number of healthcare groups.
State comptroller Sean Scanlon testified in favor of the bill, noting that telehealth is frequently faster than physically visiting a medical provider, making virtual appointments a more efficient and affordable use of patients’ time and helping health providers manage the volume of cases they can see.
The Office of the Healthcare Advocate also testified in favor the bill, noting that telehealth has expanded care to a number of communities, especially those who are disabled, immunocompromised, homebound, or do not have access to reliable transportation.
The Connecticut Hospital Association, Connecticut State Medical Society, National Alliance on Public Health, Healthcare at Home, and Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants also testified in support of the bill.
The joint favorable bill currently sits on the House of Representatives’ calendar.
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