House File 531 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 531 BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO HF 296) A BILL FOR An Act relating to including telemedicine services as a 1 distinct covered service under the medical assistance 2 program. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2098HV (2) 84 pf/nh
H.F. 531 Section 1. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE STATE PLAN AMENDMENT —— 1 TELEMEDICINE AS A DISTINCT COVERED SERVICE. The department 2 of human services shall submit a state plan amendment to the 3 centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United 4 States department of health and human services for approval 5 to include telemedicine as distinct covered services under 6 the medical assistance program. For the purposes of the 7 state plan amendment, “telemedicine” means the delivery and 8 provision of healthcare to patients and the transmission 9 of information related to that care, over distance, using 10 telecommunications technologies, and incorporating direct 11 clinical, preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic services 12 and treatment; consultative and follow-up services; remote 13 monitoring; rehabilitative services; and patient education. 14 EXPLANATION 15 This bill directs the department of human services to submit 16 an amendment to the medical assistance (Medicaid) state plan 17 to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the 18 United States department of health and human services for 19 approval to include telemedicine as distinct covered services 20 under the Medicaid program. The bill defines “telemedicine” 21 as the delivery and provision of healthcare to patients 22 and the transmission of information related to that care, 23 over distance, using telecommunications technologies and 24 incorporating direct clinical, preventive, diagnostic, and 25 therapeutic services and treatment; consultative and follow-up 26 services; remote monitoring; rehabilitative services; and 27 patient education. 28 -1- LSB 2098HV (2) 84 pf/nh 1/ 1