By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 680) of Richard T. Moore for legislation relative to
the use of telemedicine to promote efficiency in the
delivery of health care services. Health Care Financing.
|
By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate,
No. 680) of Richard T. Moore for legislation relative to
the use of telemedicine to promote efficiency in the
delivery of health care services. Health Care Financing.
|
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office of health and human services is hereby directed, pursuant to section 7 of chapter 118G of the General Laws, to establish that health care services delivered by a certified home health agency though telemedicine are reimbursable when provided to clients receiving home care services that are otherwise eligible for reimbursement under the Medicaid program. Tele-home health technology services are those services described in Section 2 of this act. For purposes of this act, “certified home health agencies” are those home health agencies that are approved for participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
SECTION 2. For purposes of this act, tele-home health technology services include the delivery of medical services and any diagnostic, consultation or treatment using interactive audio, interactive video, or interactive data transmission related to health care diagnosis or treatment of a patient I a home care setting. Tele-home health technology services do not include telephone conversations, electronic mail messages or facsimile transmissions.
SECTION 3. Reimbursement for the interactive audio or interactive video components of tele-home health technology services shall be based on a per visit fee equivalent to that of a nursing visit fee. Reimbursement for the components of tele-home health technology services that encompass remote monitoring of a patient but not on an interactive basis shall be established on a per diem or monthly basis, inclusive of equipment transmission and nursing assessment.
SECTION 4. The executive office of health and human services shall collect data on the cost savings achieved by use of tele-home health technology services, including outcome measures and patient satisfaction information, six months after the effective date of this act and at the end of one year following said effective date, and shall provide reports of the findings derived from such data to the house and senate ways and means committees and to the joint committee on health care.
SECTION 6. This act shall become effective sixty days following its enactment.
