2020 Rhode Island General Laws
Title 27 - Insurance
Chapter 27-81 The Telemedicine Coverage Act
Section 27-81-4 Coverage of telemedicine services.
§ 27-81-4. Coverage of telemedicine services.
(a) Each health insurer that issues individual or group accident and sickness insurance policies for healthcare services and/or provides a healthcare plan for healthcare services shall provide coverage for the cost of such covered healthcare services provided through telemedicine services, as provided in this section.
(b) A health insurer shall not exclude a healthcare service for coverage solely because the healthcare service is provided through telemedicine and is not provided through in-person consultation or contact, so long as such healthcare services are medically appropriate to be provided through telemedicine services and, as such, may be subject to the terms and conditions of a telemedicine agreement between the insurer and the participating healthcare provider or provider group.
(c) Benefit plans offered by a health insurer may impose a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance requirement for a healthcare service provided through telemedicine.
(d) The requirements of this section shall apply to all policies and health plans issued, reissued, or delivered in the state of Rhode Island on and after January 1, 2018.
(e) This chapter shall not apply to: short-term travel, accident-only, limited or specified disease; or individual conversion policies or health plans; nor to policies or health plans designed for issuance to persons eligible for coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare; or any other similar coverage under state or federal governmental plans.
History of Section.
(P.L. 2016, ch. 177, § 1; P.L. 2016, ch. 188, § 1.)
