State’s Telehealth Bill Advances

Nebraska Senator Mark Kolterman sponsor of the telehealth bill (LB92), said, “The bill would require health insurance companies to cover any service provided via telehealth if the service is covered for an in-person consultation.”

A Banking, Commerce, and Insurance Committee amendment clarifies that the bill will not apply to policies that provide coverage for a specified disease or other limited benefit coverage. The bill received first round approval March 6, 2017.

State Senator Bob Krist http://news.legislature.ne.gov/dist10, also supports the bill since it will help to fill gaps in the state’s behavioral health provision due to a lack of providers. He said, “The medical profession defines our lack of psychological and psychiatric treatment across the state as an emergency. Behavioral and mental health and substance abuse are on the top of the list that needs to be corrected in the state.”