102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB0707

 

Introduced 2/8/2021, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
215 ILCS 5/356z.22

    Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. In provisions concerning coverage for telehealth services, provides that if an individual or group policy of accident or health insurance provides coverage for telehealth services, reimbursement for services provided through telehealth services shall be equivalent to reimbursement for the same services provided through in-person consultation.


LRB102 11665 BMS 16999 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB0707LRB102 11665 BMS 16999 b

1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by
5changing Section 356z.22 as follows:
 
6    (215 ILCS 5/356z.22)
7    Sec. 356z.22. Coverage for telehealth services.
8    (a) For purposes of this Section:
9    "Distant site" means the location at which the health care
10provider rendering the telehealth service is located.
11    "Interactive telecommunications system" means an audio and
12video system permitting 2-way, live interactive communication
13between the patient and the distant site health care provider.
14    "Telehealth services" means the delivery of covered health
15care services by way of an interactive telecommunications
16system.
17    (b) If an individual or group policy of accident or health
18insurance provides coverage for telehealth services, then it
19must comply with the following:
20        (1) An individual or group policy of accident or
21    health insurance providing telehealth services may not:
22            (A) require that in-person contact occur between a
23        health care provider and a patient;

 

 

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1            (B) require the health care provider to document a
2        barrier to an in-person consultation for coverage of
3        services to be provided through telehealth;
4            (C) require the use of telehealth when the health
5        care provider has determined that it is not
6        appropriate; or
7            (D) require the use of telehealth when a patient
8        chooses an in-person consultation.
9        (2) Deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance applicable
10    to services provided through telehealth shall not exceed
11    the deductibles, copayments, or coinsurance required by
12    the individual or group policy of accident or health
13    insurance for the same services provided through in-person
14    consultation.
15        (3) Reimbursement for services provided through
16    telehealth services shall be equivalent to reimbursement
17    for the same services provided through in-person
18    consultation.
19    (b-5) If an individual or group policy of accident or
20health insurance provides coverage for telehealth services, it
21must provide coverage for licensed dietitian nutritionists and
22certified diabetes educators who counsel senior diabetes
23patients in the senior diabetes patients' homes to remove the
24hurdle of transportation for senior diabetes patients to
25receive treatment.
26    (c) Nothing in this Section shall be deemed as precluding

 

 

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1a health insurer from providing benefits for other services,
2including, but not limited to, remote monitoring services,
3other monitoring services, or oral communications otherwise
4covered under the policy.
5(Source: P.A. 100-1009, eff. 1-1-19.)