DISTANT SITE; ALLOW TELEMEDICINE H.B. 4213 (S-1):
SUMMARY OF BILL
REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE
House Bill 4213 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Christine Morse
House Committee: Health Policy
Senate Committee: Health Policy
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Social Welfare Act to require telemedicine services to be covered under Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Program if those services were provided at, or contracted through, a distant site allowed in the Medicaid provider manual.[1] The bill also would prescribe requirements of Medicaid and the Healthy Michigan Program related to telemedicine services and require the Department of Health and Human Services to seek any necessary Federal waiver for the bill's implementation.
BRIEF RATIONALE
The COVID-19 pandemic expanded the use of telemedicine services. According to testimony, some patients, including those who live in a rural area, are physically disabled, or are veterans use telemedicine services at higher rates. Expanding a health care professional's ability to provide telemedicine services from different locations would ensure that providers have the tools to establish quality healthcare for patients and would place healthcare decisions solely in the hands of the professional and the patient.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 3-14-24 Fiscal Analyst: John P. Maxwell
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
[1] Depending on the specific service, the Medicaid Provider Manual specifies that distant sites include hospitals, nursing facilities, rural health clinics, or a provider's office, among other sites. For more information: https://www.mdch.state.mi.us/dch-medicaid/manuals/MedicaidProviderManual.pdf