HB-5421, As Passed House, March 27, 2012

SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 5421

     A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

"The insurance code of 1956,"

(MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding section 3476.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

     Sec. 3476. (1) An expense-incurred hospital, medical, or

surgical group or individual policy or certificate delivered,

issued for delivery, or renewed in this state and a health

maintenance organization group or individual contract shall not

require face-to-face contact between a health care professional and

a patient for services appropriately provided through telemedicine,

as determined by the insurer or health maintenance organization.

Telemedicine services shall be provided by a health care

professional who is licensed, registered, or otherwise authorized

to engage in his or her health care profession in the state where

the patient is located. Telemedicine services are subject to all

terms and conditions of the policy, certificate, or contract agreed

upon between the policy, certificate, or contract holder and the

insurer or health maintenance organization, including, but not

limited to, required copayments, coinsurances, deductibles, and

approved amounts.

     (2) As used in this section, "telemedicine" means the use of

an electronic media to link patents with health care professionals

in different locations. To be considered telemedicine under this

section, the health care professional must be able to examine the

patient via a real-time, interactive audio or video, or both,

telecommunications system and the patient must be able to interact

with the off-site health care professional at the time the services

are provided.

     (3) This section applies to a policy, certificate, or contract

issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2013.