H_HI_2021A 04/20/2021 11:11:57 AM Committee Summary

Representative Lontine,
bill co-sponsor, introduced SB21-139.

The bill requires that dental plans under Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus,
and the jurisdiction of the Division of Insurance (DOI) include the option
of conducting visits via telehealth for services that are appropriate to
provide in this manner.  In addition, the following requirements that
currently apply to the use of telehealth under DOI-regulated health insurance
plans are extended to DOI-regulated dental plans:

• providers must
  be reimbursed on the same basis as for an in-person visit;

cost-sharing for
the insured party cannot exceed that of an   in-person visit;

a carrier cannot
impose an annual expenditure maximum for services delivered through telehealth;
and

a carrier is not
required to cover telehealth services that are not provided through HIPAA‑compliant
interactive audio-visual communication.

Representative Soper, bill co-sponsor, continued introducing SB21-139.

Dr. Carol Morrow, representing Colorado Dental Association, testified in support of the bill. The witness responded to questions from the committee.

Dr. Patricia Braun, representing Colorado Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, testified in support of the bill. Kelly Erb, representing Colorado Rural Health Center, testified in support of the bill.

Matt Cassady, representing Delta Dental of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. The witness responded to questions from the committee.

 

Submitted written public testimony can be found in Attachment A.

The bill sponsors provided closing comments on the bill.