Sec. 35.0041. PARTICIPATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

(a) The department by rule shall develop and implement policies permitting reimbursement of a provider for services under the program performed using telemedicine medical services.

(b) The policies must provide for reimbursement of:

(1) providers using telemedicine medical services and telehealth services in a cost-effective manner that ensures the availability to a child with special health care needs of services appropriately performed using telemedicine medical services and telehealth services that are comparable to the same types of services available to that child without use of telemedicine medical services and telehealth services;

(2) a provider for a service performed using telemedicine medical services and telehealth services at an amount equal to the amount paid to a provider for performing the same service without using telemedicine medical services and telehealth services;

(3) multiple providers of different services who participate in a single telemedicine medical services or telehealth services session for a child with special health care needs, if the department determines that reimbursing each provider for the session is cost-effective in comparison to the costs that would be involved in obtaining the services from providers without the use of telemedicine medical services and telehealth services, including the costs of transportation and lodging and other direct costs; and

(4) providers using telemedicine medical services and telehealth services included in the school health and related services program.

(c) In developing and implementing the policies required by this section, the department shall consult with:

(1) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;

(2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

(3) the Health and Human Services Commission, including the state Medicaid office;

(4) providers of telemedicine medical services and telehealth services hub sites in this state;

(5) providers of services to children with special health care needs; and

(6) representatives of consumer or disability groups affected by changes to services for children with special health care needs.

(d) This section applies to services for which coverage is provided under the health benefits plan established under Section 35.0031.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 959, Sec. 4, eff. June 14, 2001.