CHAPTER 301
PRACTICE OF SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS
645—301.1(147) Telehealth visits. A licensee may provide speech pathology or audiology services to a patient utilizing a telehealth visit if the services are provided in accordance with the following:
	301.1(1) “Telehealth visit” means the provision of speech pathology or audiology services by a licensee to a patient using technology where the licensee and the patient are not at the same physical location during the appointment.
	301.1(2) A licensee engaged in a telehealth visit shall utilize technology that is secure and HIPAA-compliant and that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment that allows two-way real-time interactive communication between the licensee and the patient. A licensee may use non-real-time technologies to prepare for an appointment or to communicate with a patient between appointments.
	301.1(3) A licensee engaged in a telehealth visit shall be held to the same standard of care as a licensee who provides in-person speech pathology or audiology services. A licensee shall not utilize a telehealth visit if the standard of care for the particular speech pathology or audiology service cannot be met using technology.
	301.1(4) Prior to the first telehealth visit, a licensee shall obtain informed consent from the patient specific to the services that will be provided in a telehealth visit. At a minimum, the informed consent shall specifically inform the patient of the following:
	a. 	The risks and limitations of the use of technology to provide speech pathology or audiology services;
	b. 	The potential for unauthorized access to protected health information; and
	c. 	The potential for disruption of technology during a telehealth visit.
	301.1(5) A licensee shall only provide speech pathology or audiology services using a telehealth visit in the areas of competence wherein proficiency in providing the particular service using technology has been gained through education, training, and experience.
	301.1(6) A licensee shall identify in the clinical record when speech pathology or audiology services are provided utilizing a telehealth visit.
[ARC 5863C, IAB 8/25/21, effective 9/29/21]
This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code chapters 147 and 154F.
[Filed ARC 5863C (Notice ARC 5556C, IAB 4/7/21), IAB 8/25/21, effective 9/29/21]