Signed by Governor Jeff Colyer

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that establishes the Kansas Telemedicine Act, effective January 1, 2019.

Highlights:

• Requires, on or after January 1, 2019, all insurance companies within the state of Kansas to provide coverage for certain medical services that are delivered via telemedicine (Sec. 1).

• Defines telemedicine as the delivery of healthcare services using 2-way audio or visual communications, live video conferencing, or store-and-forward technology (Sec. 2).

• Specifies that this bill does not mandate coverage for a telemedicine service if such service would not be covered if it were delivered in-person (Sec. 4).

• Authorizes the use of telemedicine to establish a valid provider-patient relationship (Sec. 3).

• Prohibits requiring documentation other than a patient’s medical record for reimbursement of a telemedicine service (Sec. 4).

• Requires managed care organizations that provide services covered by the state’s Medicaid program to also provide coverage for speech-language pathology and audiology services via telemedicine (Sec. 7).

• Requires rules and regulations to be in place by December 31, 2018 relating to the prescribing of drugs, including controlled substances, via telemedicine (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that the standards of practice and conduct and patient privacy laws that apply to in-person doctor visits also apply to services that are delivered via telemedicine (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text