GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2017

SESSION LAW 2017-133

HOUSE BILL 283

AN ACT to require THE dEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO STUDY AND RECOMMEND A TELEMEDICINE POLICY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Health and Human Services shall study and recommend a telemedicine policy for consideration by the General Assembly. At a minimum, the Department shall examine telemedicine/telehealth laws in other states as they pertain to the elements outlined below and recommend standards for the State:

(1)        A definition of the term telemedicine.

(2)        The scope of services that can be covered by telemedicine.

(3)        Acceptable communication and data transfer standards necessary to ensure the privacy of health information and appropriate for insurance reimbursement.

(4)        Informed consent standards.

(5)        Online prescribing standards.

(6)        Telemedicine provider licensing standards.

(7)        Private payer telemedicine reimbursement standards.

The Department shall solicit input from relevant stakeholders and from the Department of Insurance on the potential insurance impact of particular telemedicine policy elements. While conducting this study, the Department may examine services reimbursed under the Medicaid policy, but the recommendations shall not include changes to the State's Medicaid policy.

SECTION 1.1.  The Department shall study Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) and its impact on the delivery of psychology services via the telehealth model. The Department shall make recommendations on whether North Carolina should enact legislation related to the PSYPACT.

SECTION 2.  On or before October 1, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services shall submit a report containing findings and recommendations, a proposed telemedicine policy, and a recommendation on the PSYPACT to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services. Based on the Department's report, the Committee shall consider making a recommendation to the 2017 General Assembly during the 2018 Regular Session.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 29^th day of June, 2017.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Roy Cooper

                                                                         Governor

Approved 4:09 p.m. this 20^th day of July, 2017