148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

FISCAL NOTE

 

DESCRIPTION:        AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO TELEMEDICINE SERVICES.

 

 

ASSUMPTIONS:


  1. This Act is effective upon its enactment.
  2. This Act requires Delaware health insurers and health care providers to support the use of telemedicine.  This Act provides a way to ensure and/or enhance access to care through the appropriate use of technology to allow health care consumer’s access to qualified health care providers.
  3. The Act requires that an insurer, corporation, or health maintenance organization to reimburse the treating provider for telemedicine services on the same basis and at least at the rate that an insurer, corporation, or health maintenance organization is responsible for coverage for the provision of the same service through in-person consultation or contact.  Payment for telemedicine interactions shall include reasonable compensation to the originating or distant site for the transmission cost incurred during the delivery of health care services.

4.     The fiscal impact is indeterminable as the cost (savings) depends on the following factors which cannot be estimated with any degree of accuracy:

a.     the impact of telemedicine on total overall utilization of services covered by the State’s Health Plans

b.     the cost differential between telemedicine and in-person services; and

c.     improvements in disease management and patient outcomes which may result in long-term savings.

 

 

Cost:

            Fiscal Year 2015:           Indeterminable

Fiscal Year 2016:           Indeterminable

            Fiscal Year 2017:           Indeterminable

 

 

Office of Controller General                                                        (Amounts are shown in whole dollars)

April 23, 2015

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4531480001