Lexology March 4, 2021
Washington State Seeks to Make Audio-Only Telehealth Permanent
On February 5, 2021, Washington State Rep. Marcus Riccelli introduced House Bill 1196 (“HB-1196”) which seeks to set specific guidelines for use and coverage of audio-only telehealth platforms, such as the phone. HB-1196 would mandate coverage for audio-only telehealth beyond the public health emergency (the “Pandemic”) as long as the service met certain requirements. The bill was passed almost unanimously by the House on February 24, 2021 and is now before the state Senate.
HB-1196 comes as many state and federal lawmakers grapple with establishing permanent rules for audio-only telehealth, which is now allowed in most states under emergency measures put in place as a result of the Pandemic. As discussed in...
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