An Act To Promote Telehealth
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1974
Committee Amendment CA_A_S433 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §3173, 24-A MRSA §4316

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A- " to S.P. 676, L.D. 1974, Bill, "An Act To 
Promote Telehealth" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, case management services are an essential component of serving 
Medicaid members; and 
Whereas, the emerging spread of COVID-19 may make it unsafe to provide in-
person case management services to Medicaid members; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 2 and 3 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3173-1, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 307, §3, is 
amended to read: 
2. Meetings. The advisory group shall hold at least one regular meeting and no 
more than 4 meetings each year. 
Sec. 3. 24-A MRSA §4316, sub-§1, ,fA-1 is enacted to read: 
A-1. "Medicare" means the "Health Insurance for the Aged Act." Title XVIII of the 
Social Security Amendments of 1965. as amended.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following: 
'Sec. 4. 24-A MRSA §4316, sub-§9 is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\', 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ft "to S,P, 676, L.D. 1974 l5 ~ L\ 33) 
9. Medicare coverage policy. A carrier may provide coverage for health care 
services delivered through telehealth that is consistent with the Medicare coverage policy 
for interprofessional Internet consultations. If a carrier provides coverage consistent with 
the Medicare coverage policy for interprofessional Internet consultations, the carrier may 
also provide coverage for interprofessional Internet consultations that are provided by a 
federally qualified health center or rural health clinic as defmed in 42 United States Code, 
Section 1395x, subsection (aa)(1993).' 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, adds an 
emergency preamble and emergency clause to the bill. It removes the 4-meeting limit on 
the Maine Telehealth and Telemonitoring Advisory Group. It also provides that private 
insurance carriers may provide coverage for health care services delivered through 
telehealth that is consistent with the Medicare coverage policy for interprofessional 
Internet consultations and provides that if a carrier provides such coverage the carrier 
may also provide coverage for interprofessional Internet consultations that are provided 
by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/12/20 feae'.. 
LD 1974 
LR 2738(02) 
An Act To Promote Telehealth 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~" 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Potential current biennium cost increase - Federal Expenditures Fund 
This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to amend its rule Chapter IO I: Maine Care Benefits 
Manual, Chapter I, Section 4, Telehealth and Chapter IO 1: MaineCare Benefits Manual, Chapter II, Section 13, 
Targeted Case Management Services (TCM) to provide for reimbursement of case management services delivered 
tlu·ough telehealth to targeted populations. Providers of telehealth services must submit claims for the same procedure 
codes and rates that apply to the underlying Covered Service as if those services were delivered face to face. 
Additionally, the Health Care Provider at the Originating Site may bill MaineCare for an Originating Facility Fee and 
this fee is above and beyond the normal fee for the service. This additional fee could lead to additional costs above 
what is currently paid for TCM services. However, this additional fee is utilized infrequently for current services that 
use telehealth and new telehealth services are slow to gain acceptance. Any potential new costs related to this charge 
are expected to be minimal at first with a slow increase in costs over time. 
LR2738(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I