Governor signed a bill into law today which expands coverage in Â鶹´«Ã½ for telemedicine services.
, Relating to Telehealth, requires the state’s Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service programs cover services provided through telehealth, stating that these programs “shall not deny coverage for any service provided through telehealth that would be covered if the service were provided through in-person consultation between a patient and a health care provider.”
Governor Ige said the bill is dear to his heart and his long-running efforts to relieve Â鶹´«Ã½’s physician shortage, which is especially severe on the neighbor islands, and which has been the object of several studies conducted by the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (JABSOM) .
Senator Roz Baker said the new law builds upon the work of a conference last January held at the John A. Burns School of Medicine and organized by the (PBTRC), a federally funded program housed within the at UH Mānoa’s .
“This is so significant for Â鶹´«Ã½,” said JABSOM Senior Scientist Deborah Birkmire-Peters. “Â鶹´«Ã½ now has the one of the most progressive and comprehensive telehealth laws in the country.”
PBTRC Co-Director Christina Higa said telehealth is critical for our island state, “Telehealth helps to increase access to health services, improve quality of care, and reduce cost. It is wonderful that the legislature and governor have advanced telehealth through this enabling law that lifts many of the long-standing barriers and provides opportunities for win-win situations for patients, providers, and our communities.”
Read more about the bill signing at the .
—By Tina Shelton