Section 17b-245g - Telehealth services under the Connecticut medical assistance program. Audio-only telehealth services. Coverage criteria. Reimbursement(a) As used in this section: (1) "Telehealth" means the mode of delivering health care or other health services via information and communication technologies to facilitate the diagnosis, consultation and treatment, education, care management and self-management of a patient's physical, oral and mental health, and includes (A) interaction between the patient at the originating site and the telehealth provider at a distant site, and (B) synchronous interactions, asynchronous store and forward transfers or remote patient monitoring. "Telehealth" does not include the use of facsimile, texting or electronic mail.(2) "Connecticut medical assistance program" means the state's Medicaid program and the Children's Health Insurance Program under Title XXI of the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time.(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 17b-245c, 17b-245e or 19a-906 or any other section, regulation, rule, policy or procedure governing the Connecticut medical assistance program, the Commissioner of Social Services shall, to the extent permissible under federal law, provide coverage under the Connecticut medical assistance program for audio-only telehealth services when (1) clinically appropriate, as determined by the commissioner, (2) it is not possible to provide comparable covered audiovisual telehealth services, and (3) provided to individuals who are unable to use or access comparable, covered audiovisual telehealth services.(c) To the extent permissible under federal law, the commissioner shall provide Medicaid reimbursement for services provided by means of telehealth to the same extent as if the service was provided in person.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-245g
Added by P.A. 21-0133,S. 4 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2021 Regular Session, eff. 7/7/2021.