H_HIE_2017A 02/07/2017 Committee Summary

09:42 AM -- HB 17-1094



Representatives Buck and Valdez presented House Bill 17-1094 to the committee. The bill makes several modifications to the existing requirement that health benefit plans cover teleheath 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 qualified local health care providers if such providers are willing to negotiate with the carrier for reasonable contract terms;

• 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; and

• 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.



09:47 AM -- Samantha Lippolis, representing Centura Health, testified in support of the bill.



09:50 AM -- Debbie Voyles, representing University of Colorado Health, testified in support of the bill.

10:01 AM -- Dr. Chet Cedars, representing the Colorado Medical Society, testified in support of the bill.











10:05 AM -- Dr. Tina Finlayson, representing CU Medicine, testified in support of the bill.



10:12 AM -- Diane Robinson, representing the Senior Lobby, testified in support of the bill.



10:15 AM -- John Conklin, representing the Colorado Medical society, answered questions about the bill.



10:25 AM -- Sara Orrange, representing Colorado Association of Health Plans, testified in a neutral capacity.

170207 AttachA.pdf

170207 AttachB.pdf