BHB/8/15
Sponsored by Caleb Hopper, Riley Ham of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
This legislation was filed in the Health category
Presented as part of the YIG Volunteer 2024 conference
| 1 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE TENNESSEE YMCA YOUTH LEGISLATURE: |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Section 1: Terms in this act, unless the context requires otherwise, shall be defined as follows: |
| 4 | a) Telehealth: The delivery of healthcare services, including medical, behavioral health, and |
| 5 | counseling services, remotely via telecommunications technology. |
| 6 | b) Scope of telehealth services: Include but not limited to consultations, diagnosis, treatment, and |
| 7 | monitoring of patients. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Section 2: Healthcare providers licensed in Tennessee shall be authorized to provide telehealth |
| 10 | services to patients located within the state, regardless of the patient's geographic location. Out- |
| 11 | of-state healthcare providers shall be subject to registration and oversight by the Tennessee |
| 12 | Department of Health to ensure compliance with state regulations and standards of care. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | Section 3: Health insurance plans regulated by the State of Tennessee shall be required to cover |
| 15 | telehealth services on par with in-person services, including reimbursement for telehealth |
| 16 | consultations and treatments. Insurance reimbursement rates for telehealth services shall be |
| 17 | established based on prevailing rates for equivalent in-person services, ensuring equitable |
| 18 | compensation for healthcare providers. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | Section 4: The State of Tennessee shall collaborate with telecommunications providers and |
| 21 | healthcare organizations to improve broadband infrastructure and connectivity in underserved and |
| 22 | rural areas to support the delivery of telehealth services. The Tennessee Department of Economic |
| 23 | and Community Development shall explore opportunities for public-private partnerships to expand |
| 24 | broadband access and support telehealth initiatives statewide. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | Section 5: Telehealth providers shall be required to adhere to state and federal regulations |
| 27 | regarding patient privacy and confidentiality. The Tennessee Department of Health shall establish |
| 28 | guidelines and best practices for the secure transmission and storage of patient health information |
| 29 | in telehealth settings. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | Section 6: The State of Tennessee shall launch public awareness campaigns to educate residents |
| 32 | about the benefits and availability of telehealth services, particularly in underserved communities. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | Section 7: This bill does not require any funding from the state of Tennessee. |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Section 8: All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this are hereby repealed. |
| 37 | |
| 38 | Section 9: This act shall take effect immediately upon becoming a law. |
| 39 |