Michigan Legislation Expands Coverage Of Telemedicine Among Private Insurers

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed two bills designed to expand the coverage of telemedicine services among private insurers. The bills (HB 5408 and HB 5421) block insurance providers from requiring face-to-face meetings between a patient and health care professional for services that the insurer, health maintenance organization (HMO), or group/non-group health care coordination has already deemed appropriately provided through the use of telemedicine. In both bills, “telemedicine” refers to any electronic media to link patients with health care professionals in different locations, and allows those professionals to examine patients via real-time, interactive video and . . .