Texas House Bill HB842

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Introduced: 1/25/11
• Refer: 2/24/11

Caption

Relating to telemedicine medical services, telehealth services, and home telemonitoring services provided to certain Medicaid recipients.

Impact

The bill significantly impacts Medicaid provisions by requiring the development of a reimbursement system for telemedicine and telehealth service providers. It mandates that the executive commissioner create a statewide program to permit reimbursement for home telemonitoring services. This is geared toward specific patient populations that exhibit criteria indicating a need for closer monitoring and healthcare support, potentially improving health outcomes for vulnerable groups within Medicaid. Additionally, it requires coordination between various health services and the sharing of clinical information between home health agencies and patients' physicians.

Summary

House Bill 842 aims to expand access to healthcare services in Texas by establishing provisions for telemedicine medical services, telehealth services, and home telemonitoring services, specifically for Medicaid recipients. The bill defines key terms such as telemedicine and telehealth, detailiing their characteristics and the technology used to deliver these services. The intention behind HB842 is to utilize advanced telecommunications technologies to enhance patient care, enabling healthcare professionals to reach patients remotely and provide necessary medical services in a more efficient manner.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment surrounding HB842 is positive among its proponents, who see the bill as a progressive step towards modernizing health care delivery in Texas. They argue that it supports vulnerable populations and enhances access to needed services, especially in rural or underserved areas. However, there are concerns regarding the bill's implementation and the potential need for careful oversight to ensure that it effectively meets the needs of patients without diminishing the quality of traditional in-person healthcare services.

Contention

Some points of contention include the adequacy of the reimbursement framework proposed in the bill and the consideration of how telehealth services will integrate with existing healthcare practices. Critics may voice concerns about how well the bill addresses the complexities of remote care and whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care. Additionally, as technology plays a larger role in healthcare, discussions may also center around the equity of access to technological resources across different patient demographics.