H-1489

   Amend  the amendment, H-1484, to House File 891, as follows:
   1.  Page 74, after line 30 by inserting: 
<DIVISION ___
TELEHEALTH —— MENTAL HEALTH —— REIMBURSEMENT PARITY
   Sec. ___.  Section 514C.34, subsection 1, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new paragraphs:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0a.  “Covered person” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  00a.  “Facility” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  0c.  “Health carrier” means the same as defined in section 514J.102.
   Sec. ___.  Section 514C.34, subsection 1, paragraph c, Code 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   c.  “Telehealth” means the delivery of health care services through the use of real-time interactive audio and video, or other real-time interactive electronic media, regardless of where the health care professional and the covered person are each located. “Telehealth” does not include the delivery of health care services delivered solely through an audio-only telephone, electronic mail message, or facsimile transmission. 
   Sec. ___.  Section 514C.34, Code 2021, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3A.  a.  A health carrier shall reimburse a health care professional and a facility for health care services provided by telehealth to a covered person for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease on the same basis and at the same rate as the health carrier would apply to the same health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease provided in person to a covered person by the health care professional or the facility.
   b.  As a condition of reimbursement pursuant to paragraph “a”, a health carrier shall not require that an additional health care professional be located in the same room as a covered person while health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease are provided via telehealth by another health care professional to the covered person.
   Sec. ___.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This division of this Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
   Sec. ___.  RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY.  This division of this Act applies to health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease provided by a health care professional or a facility to a covered person by telehealth on or after January 1, 2021.>
   2.  By renumbering as necessary.

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SMITH of Black Hawk