TITLE: Relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services.

SUMMARY: Relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a health benefit plan that provides coverage for telemedicine medical services or telehealth services may not deny payment to a preferred or contracted health professional for a covered claim for a telemedicine medical service or telehealth service based solely on the telecommunications or information technology vendor used by the health professional to deliver the service if the method of communication that the vendor provides complies with Chapter 111, Occupations Code, as applicable. SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2020. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.