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NJ A4179

NJ A4179
Revises requirements for health insurance providers and Medicaid to cover services provided using telemedicine and telehealth; appropriates $5 million.


summary

Introduced
06/01/2020
In Committee
06/16/2021
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/11/2022

Introduced Session

2020-2021 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill revises the telemedicine and telehealth law, P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-1 et al.), to require health benefits plans, Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare, and the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), to provide expanded coverage for services provided using telemedicine and telehealth. Specifically, the bill requires that reimbursement for telemedicine and telehealth services be equal to the reimbursement rate for the same services when they are provided in person. Current law provides telemedicine and telehealth services may be reimbursed up to the amount at which the service would be reimbursed if provided in person. The bill also prohibits health benefits plans, Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare, and the SHBP and SEHBP from imposing "place of service" requirements on services provided using telemedicine and telehealth, and expressly allows health care providers to provide services using telemedicine and telehealth regardless of whether the provider is located in New Jersey when providing services, provided that the provider is otherwise licensed to practice health care in New Jersey. The bill prohibits health benefits plans, Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare, and the SHBP and SEHBP from placing restrictions on the electronic or technological platform used to provide telemedicine and telehealth, if the services provided when using that platform would meet the in-person standard of care for that service, and if the platform is otherwise compliant with the requirements of the federal health privacy rule set forth at 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164.

AI Summary

This bill revises the telemedicine and telehealth law to require health benefits plans, Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare, and the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), to provide expanded coverage for services provided using telemedicine and telehealth. Specifically, it requires reimbursement for telemedicine and telehealth services to be equal to the reimbursement rate for the same services provided in-person, prohibits "place of service" requirements, and allows health care providers to provide services using telemedicine and telehealth regardless of whether the provider is located in New Jersey. The bill also prohibits these plans from placing restrictions on the electronic or technological platform used to provide telemedicine and telehealth services, as long as the services meet the in-person standard of care and are compliant with federal health privacy rules. The bill appropriates $5 million to support these changes.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (19)

Last Action

Substituted by S2559 (4R) (on 06/24/2021)

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