Bill > S529

This bill mandates that various health insurance policies, including those for state employees, must provide coverage for telemedicine services on a non-discriminatory basis, meaning these services should be covered if they would be covered if provided in person. Telemedicine is defined as using audio, video, or other electronic media for diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, but it specifically excludes audio-only phone calls or faxes. The bill ensures that insurers cannot deny coverage solely because a service was delivered via telemedicine, as long as the service is medically necessary and otherwise covered by the policy. This applies to different types of health benefit policies, such as accident and sickness insurance, hospital service plans, medical service agreements, and health maintenance contracts, and requires that policies issued or renewed after January 1, 2012, comply with these provisions.