Connecticut Senate Bill SB00424

Connecticut 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/18/23
• Refer: 1/18/23

Caption

An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement For Telehealth Services.

Impact

If enacted, SB00424 would have significant implications for state laws concerning Medicaid and healthcare services. It would formalize and institutionalize the practice of reimbursing telehealth services, potentially increasing the accessibility of healthcare for rural and underserved communities. By allowing reimbursement parity for telehealth, the bill is designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery, ensuring that patients can continue receiving care remotely without financial disincentives.

Summary

SB00424, titled 'An Act Concerning Medicaid Reimbursement For Telehealth Services', aims to amend section 17b-245g of the General Statutes to ensure that Medicaid provides reimbursement for telehealth services at the same level as it does for in-person services. The primary goal of the bill is to safeguard continued access to affordable and accessible healthcare through telehealth, recognizing the growing necessity for such services especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw an unprecedented surge in telehealth utilization.

Contention

While advocates praise the bill for maintaining and improving access to healthcare, there may be points of contention regarding its implementation, particularly concerning the budget allocated for expanded telehealth services within the Medicaid framework. Critics may raise concerns about the potential for misuse or over-reliance on telehealth at the expense of in-person visits, which are essential for some medical assessments. The bill seeks to balance these interests by defining reimbursement conditions that align with federal law, but this could also lead to debates over how broadly telehealth services should be defined and covered.