s_hhs_2017a_2017-02-23t13:31:35z2 Hearing Summary

Date: 02/23/2017

Location: SCR 354

03:14 PM



The meeting recessed.



03:19 PM



The meeting reconvened.



03:20 PM -- HB 17-1094



Senators Donovan and Crowder, co-prime sponsors, presented House Bill 17-1094. The reengrossed bill makes several modifications to the existing requirement that health benefit plans cover telehealth services. Specifically, the bill clarifies that:

• a health plan cannot restrict or deny coverage for a covered benefit provided using telehealth services based on the communication technology or application used to deliver services;
• the availability of telehealth does not modify insurance carriers' existing obligation under state law to maintain a sufficient network of local health care providers;
• covered individuals may receive telehealth services from a private residence, but health insurers are not required to cover the transmission costs incurred from using telehealth services from a home or other originating site fees;
• the applicable copayment, coinsurance, or deductible for telehealth services should be applied by the carrier and may not exceed the applicable cost sharing amounts for in-person services; and
• HIPAA-compliant interactive audio-visual communication and HIPAA-compliant applications via cellular telephones may be used for telehealth, but that voice-only telephone and text messaging may not be used.

03:25 PM -- Sara Orrange, Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in a neutral position on the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



03:37 PM -- Samantha Lippolis, Centura Health, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.



03:47 PM -- Debbie Voyles, University of Colorado Health (UC Health), testified in support of the bill and responded to questions from the committee.



03:53 PM -- Tina Finlayson, University of Colorado Medicine, testified in support of the bill and responded to questions.



03:57 PM -- Diane Robinson, representing herself, testified in support of the bill.





04:00 PM



Senators Crowder and Donovan made closing comments.

04:02 PM



The meeting adjourned.