Bill Text: TX SB1265 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-07 - Referred to Business & Commerce [SB1265 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1265-Introduced.html

---

86R9213 PMO-D
By: Buckingham S.B. No. 1265

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to health benefit coverage provided by certain health
benefit plans for telemedicine medical services and telehealth
services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (c), a health benefit plan
that provides coverage for telemedicine medical services or
telehealth services may not deny payment to a preferred or
contracted health professional for a covered claim for a
telemedicine medical service or telehealth service based solely on
the telecommunications or information technology vendor used by the
health professional to deliver the service if the method of
communication that the vendor provides complies with Chapter 111,
Occupations Code, as applicable.
SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a health benefit plan
that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after
January 1, 2020.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.