Bill Text: CA AB175 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Medical telemedicine: optometrists.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-10-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 419, Statutes of 2009. [AB175 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB175-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 175	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 21, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Galgiani
    (   Principal coauthor:   Senator 
 Florez   ) 
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members  Tom Berryhill 
   and Fuller   Tom Berryhill,
  Block,   Fuller,   and Monning  )
    (   Coauthor:   Senator  
Maldonado   )

                        JANUARY 29, 2009

   An act to amend Section 14132.725 of the Welfare and Institutions
Code, relating to telemedicine.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 175, as amended, Galgiani. Medical telemedicine: optometrists.
   Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, regulates the practice of
telemedicine, defined as the practice of health care delivery,
diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of medical data, and
education using interactive audio, video, or data communications.
   Existing law, until January 1, 2013, authorizes "teleophthalmology
and teledermatology by store and forward" under the Medi-Cal
program, to the extent that federal financial participation is
available. Existing law defines "teleophthalmology and
teledermatology by store and forward" as an asynchronous transmission
of medical information to be reviewed at a later time by a physician
at a distant site who is trained in ophthalmology or dermatology,
where the physician at the distant site reviews the medical
information without the patient being present in real time.
   This bill would expand the definition of "teleophthalmology and
teledermatology by store and forward" to include an asynchronous
transmission of medical information to be reviewed at a later time
 , for teleophthalmology,  by  an   a
licensed  optometrist  trained to diagnose and treat eye
diseases  .
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 14132.725 of the Welfare and Institutions Code
is amended to read:
   14132.725.  (a) Commencing July 1, 2006, to the extent that
federal financial participation is available, face-to-face contact
between a health care provider and a patient shall not be required
under the Medi-Cal program for teleophthalmology and teledermatology
by store and forward. Services appropriately provided through the
store and forward process are subject to billing and reimbursement
policies developed by the department.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "teleophthalmology and
teledermatology by store and forward" means an asynchronous
transmission of medical information to be reviewed at a later time by
a physician at a distant site who is trained in ophthalmology or
dermatology  or   or, for teleophthalmology, by
 an optometrist  trained to diagnose and treat eye
diseases   who is licensed pursuant to Chapter 7
(commencing with Section 3000) of Division 2 of the Business and
Professions Code  , where the physician or optometrist at the
distant site reviews the medical information without the patient
being present in real time. A patient receiving teleophthalmology or
teledermatology by store and forward shall be notified of the right
to receive interactive communication with the distant specialist
physician or optometrist, and shall receive an interactive
communication with the distant specialist physician or optometrist,
upon request. If requested, communication with the distant specialist
physician or optometrist may occur either at the time of the
consultation, or within 30 days of the patient's notification of the
results of the consultation.  If the reviewing optometrist
identifies a disease or condition requiring consultation or referral
pursuant to Section 3041 of the Business and Professions Code, that
consultation or referral shall be with an appropriate physician and
surgeon or ophthalmologist, as required. 
   (c) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of
Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the
department may implement, interpret, and make specific this section
by means of all county letters, provider bulletins, and similar
instructions.
   (d) On or before January 1, 2008, the department shall report to
the Legislature the number and type of services provided, and the
payments made related to the application of store and forward
telemedicine as provided, under this section as a Medi-Cal benefit.
   (e) The health care provider shall comply with the informed
consent provisions of subdivisions (c) to (g), inclusive, of, and
subdivisions (i) and (j) of, Section 2290.5 of the Business and
Professions Code when a patient receives teleophthalmology or
teledermatology by store and forward.
   (f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2013, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2013, deletes or extends
that date.                                             
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