Bill > H1288

This bill aims to ensure telehealth parity for nutrition counseling across various healthcare insurance platforms in Massachusetts. Specifically, the bill adds a standardized definition of "Medical Nutrition Therapy" as nutrition care services provided by licensed dietitian/nutritionists, focusing on prevention, management, and treatment of diseases or conditions. The legislation requires insurance commissions, divisions, and organizations (including state employee health plans, Medicaid, and various types of insurance providers) to guarantee that payment rates for medical nutrition therapy delivered via telehealth technologies like interactive video and telephone are equivalent to in-person service rates. This means that whether a patient receives nutrition counseling through a video call, phone consultation, or in-person meeting, the healthcare provider will be reimbursed at the same rate. The bill builds upon previous telehealth legislation from 2020, expanding access to nutrition counseling services by removing potential financial disincentives for remote care delivery and ensuring consistent compensation for healthcare providers regardless of the method of service delivery.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1288