Dive Brief:
- New York state has passed new legislation that requires telehealth visits be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person visits.
- The bill is retroactive to Jan. 1 and was signed last week by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. However, it may take some time for insurance companies to update their policies.
- According to the new law, deductibles, co-insurance or other conditions for coverage of telemedicine cannot differ from those for in-person visits.
Dive Insight:
The new law is good for patients, who now have better access to care anytime and anywhere, and physicians, who now have greater incentive to offer such care. New York is the 22nd state to pass telehealth parity laws, so while there are others that haven't quite bought into telehealth as a valid way to provide care to patients, the trend appears to be gaining momentum. A growing number of large insurers already offer virtual visits to members through employer health plans, the Albany Business Review noted.