Telehealth for All Act of 2025.
If enacted, AB688 will amend the Welfare and Institutions Code by adding a new section that mandates the reporting of various metrics related to telehealth visits, disaggregated by demographics and other health determinants. This aim is to enhance understanding of telehealth access and utilization across different groups, identifying disparities and facilitating targeted improvements. It seeks to complement existing regulations by ensuring that telehealth services continue to expand alongside their assessment and improvement.
Assembly Bill No. 688, also known as the Telehealth for All Act of 2025, aims to enhance the use of telehealth services within the Medi-Cal program, targeting improved access to healthcare, particularly for medically underserved populations in California. The bill proposes the establishment of a routine assessment by the State Department of Health Care Services starting in 2028 which will produce publicly available reports on telehealth utilization. These reports will be derived from Medi-Cal data, improving transparency and accountability in telehealth services and outcomes over time.
While AB688 is primarily viewed as a positive development in expanding healthcare access, there may be points of contention regarding the breadth and nature of the data collected. Stakeholders may raise concerns over privacy and data security related to the increased scrutiny of telehealth services. Additionally, some may argue about the adequacy of funding and resources for implementing such extensive reporting requirements effectively, highlighting the balance between the benefits of increased service access and the administrative burden on healthcare providers.