State lawmakers approve insurance mandate for telemedicine

The Virginia State Legislature last week unanimously approved legislation that would make the state the 12th in the nation to mandate insurance coverage for telemedicine services. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. William Wampler Jr. (R-Bristol), calls on health insurance companies, HMOs and healthcare subscription plans to provide full coverage for telemedicine services, defined as interactive audio, video or other electronic media for the purpose of medical diagnosis, consultation or treatment. Insurers are allowed to perform utilization review to determine whether telemedicine is appropriate in specific cases.

"This is one more indication that telemedicine is now fully accepted by providers, policy makers, consumers and insurers as an important way to increase access, improve quality and reduce costs in the delivery of healthcare" American Telemedicine Association CEO Jonathan D. Linkous says in a press release. The current ATA president is Dr. Karen Rheuban, medical director of the Office of Telemedicine at the University of Virginia. In the same statement, Rheuban thanked the "leaders of the state legislature who have taken the bold step to improve the lives of the residents of Virginia."

Once Gov. Bob McDonnell signs the legislation, Virginia will join California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas in requiring coverage of telemedicine services, according to ATA.

For more:
- read this American Telemedicine Association press release

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