Bringing you up-to-date telehealth information resources on the southwest region and the USA
Regional Legislative Update
State legislatures across the country are introducing bills that include some areas of telemedicine, or licensing that can assist with patients in their care via telehealth. This legislative update looks at the Southwest region of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico. To read all regional legislative and regulatory updates, visit the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Legislation & Regulation (govhawk.com).
Bill Title: medical marijuana; adult-use marijuana
Bill Number: SB 1466
CCHP Classification: Online Prescribing & Provider-Patient Relationship Establishment
Notes: Allows an assessment for purposes of a medical marijuana certification to be completed either in person or by the use of telehealth.
Bill Title: psychologists; prescribing authority
Bill Number: SB 1457
CCHP Classification: Regulatory, Licensing and Advisory Boards
Notes: Allows supervision of a psychologist who has a conditional prescription certificate to be done telephonically or by video conference.
Bill Title: licensed professional counselors; licensure compact
Bill Number: HB 2687
CCHP Classification: Cross-State Licensing
Notes: Enacts the Counseling Compact in Arizona.
Bill Title: dietitian nutritionists; licensure.
Bill Number: HB 2558
CCHP Classification: Regulatory, Licensing and Advisory Boards
Notes: Provides a definition for telehealth for nutritionists.
Bill Title: end-of-life decisions; terminally ill individuals.
Bill Number: HB 2583
CCHP Classification: Online Prescribing & Provider-Patient Relationship Establishment
Notes: Defines telemedicine and allows an oral request for end of life medication to be made over telemedicine in certain circumstances.
Bill Title: naturopathic physicians medical board
Bill Number: SB 1218
CCHP Classification: Regulatory, Licensing and Advisory Boards Online Prescribing & Provider-Patient Relationship Establishment
Notes: Specifies that a doctor patient relationship can be established through telehealth (as opposed to real time telemedicine).
Bill Title: end-of-life decisions; terminally ill individuals
Bill Number: SB 1646
CCHP Classification: Online Prescribing & Provider-Patient Relationship Establishment
Notes: Specifies when telemedicine can be used to receive a prescription for medication that a qualified individual may self-administer for end of life.
Bill Title: dietitian nutritionists; licensure
Bill Number: HB 2337
CCHP Classification: Regulatory, Licensing and Advisory Boards
Notes: Defines telehealth for dietitian nutritionists.
Bill Title: Veterans Mental Health Session Reimbursement Program
Bill Number: HB 23-1088
CCHP Classification: Miscellaneous
Notes: Creates the Veterans Mental Health Services Program within the Behavioral Health Administration. Part of their duties is to determine a reasonable rate of reimbursement for mental health sessions with the rate the same regardless of whether the appointment was for a telehealth or in person appointment.
Bill Title: Provides for the continuation of certain requirements governing insurance coverage of telehealth services. (BDR S-336)
Bill Number: SB 119
CCHP Classification: Private Payer Reimbursement
Notes: Provides for the continuation of certain requirements governing insurance coverage of telehealth services.
Bill Title: Revises provisions relating to dentistry. (BDR 40-455)
Bill Number:2 SB 391-201
CCHP Classification: Private Payer Reimbursement
Notes: Requires health plans maintain and update a list of providers that offer teledentistry. They would also be required to allow providers of dental services to include on claims codes for teledentistry services provided through both real time interactions and asynchronous transmissions of medical and dental information.
Bill Title: Authorizes the establishment of the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Center of Nevada. (BDR 34-361)
Bill Number: AB 37
CCHP Classification: Miscellaneous
Notes: Authorizes the establishment of the Behavioral Health Workforce Development Center of Nevada at one or more institutions within the System for purposes related to strengthening the workforce of providers of behavioral health care and authorizes funding for Center purposes to include equipment for telehealth.
Bill Title: BERNALILLO COUNTY CRIME PREVENTION
Bill Number: HB 152
CCHP Classification: Miscellaneous
Notes: Increases funding for mobile school-based health centers.
Bill Title: CENTER FOR SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Bill Number: SM 9
CCHP Classification: Pilot Programs, Studies, Demonstration Projects
