Bill > S1646

This bill, titled the "Florida Telemedicine Act," establishes regulations for the provision of telemedicine services in Florida, defining key terms like "telemedicine" (the practice of medicine using advanced communication technology, excluding audio-only calls or emails) and "telemedicine provider" (a licensed physician, physician assistant, advanced registered nurse practitioner, or pharmacist). It requires out-of-state practitioners to be licensed in Florida to provide telemedicine services to patients in the state, with specific exceptions for physicians consulting with Florida-licensed providers or meeting alternative requirements related to their home state's licensure, liability coverage, and affiliations with Florida healthcare entities. The act also outlines standards for telemedicine, emphasizing that the standard of care is the same as in-person care, and prohibits prescribing controlled substances for chronic, non-malignant pain via telemedicine. It permits the use of automated equipment for diagnosing and treating eye conditions under specific FDA and HIPAA compliance rules, but prohibits prescriptions for glasses or contacts based solely on automated refraction. Furthermore, the bill mandates that Medicaid programs reimburse telemedicine services comparably to in-person services, requiring informed consent from patients and prohibiting managed care plans from using telemedicine providers who are not physicians (licensed under chapter 458 or 459) to meet network requirements. Finally, it restricts health insurance claims from being denied based on a telemedicine medical necessity determination unless made by a physician licensed in Florida.