SF2743

SF2743 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Audio-only telehealth medical assistance extension provision

Related bill: HF2172

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to expand the coverage of medical assistance in Minnesota to include telehealth services provided solely through audio communication. This initiative follows the recognition of the importance of telehealth, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and seeks to make medical services more accessible to residents.

Main Provisions

Telehealth Coverage: The bill modifies existing statute to ensure that medical assistance covers services provided through telehealth, including audio-only communication, treating them as equivalent to in-person services in terms of payment.
Time-bound Audio-Only Coverage: Audio-only communication, which typically involves telephone calls without any visual interaction, will be accepted as valid telehealth services from July 1, 2025, through July 1, 2028.
Provider Criteria and Documentation: Health care providers must meet specific criteria to offer telehealth services. This includes having appropriate policies to ensure patient safety and efficacy of the services provided. Providers are required to document detailed information about telehealth encounters, including type and duration of service, and mode of transmission.
Reimbursement Parity: The bill clarifies that telehealth services provided via audio and visual platforms will satisfy face-to-face requirements for reimbursement by various health service centers, such as federally qualified health centers and certified community behavioral health clinics.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Audio-Only Telehealth Inclusion: This change temporarily allows for audio-only communication, which was previously not included in the definition of telehealth, to be part of reimbursable services under medical assistance.
Extended Reimbursement Framework: By treating telehealth services, including audio-only interactions, as equivalent to face-to-face consultations, the bill ensures that telehealth is embedded into the reimbursement methodologies for certain qualified health centers and clinics.

Relevant Terms

telehealth, medical assistance, audio-only communication, healthcare providers, telehealth coverage, reimbursement parity, patient safety, documentation requirements.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 19, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
March 19, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Health and Human Services

Citations

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    "analysis": {
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        "Includes audio-only communication as telehealth between July 1, 2025, and July 1, 2028."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill extends medical assistance coverage for audio-only telehealth services under section 256B.0625 subdivision 3b.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies telehealth services requirements and documentation."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "256B.0625",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Dictates record-keeping requirements for telehealth services under Minnesota Rules part 9505.2175 subparts 1 and 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Specifies documentation needs for telehealth services, including timing and technical details."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "9505.2175",
    "subdivision": "subparts 1 and 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
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      "summary": "Defines terminology for telehealth services under section 62A.673 subdivision 2.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies definitions related to telehealth such as 'originating site' and 'distant site'."
      ]
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    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
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