Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1265 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/28/2019

                            86R9213 PMO-D
 By: Buckingham S.B. No. 1265


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health
 benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth
 services.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a health benefit plan
 that provides coverage for telemedicine medical services or
 telehealth services may not deny payment to a preferred or
 contracted health professional for a covered claim for a
 telemedicine medical service or telehealth service based solely on
 the telecommunications or information technology vendor used by the
 health professional to deliver the service if the method of
 communication that the vendor provides complies with Chapter 111,
 Occupations Code, as applicable.
 SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to a health benefit plan
 that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after
 January 1, 2020.
 SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.