HB 537

Abstract

Telemedicine; out of state providers; behavioral health services. Allows certain practitioners of professions regulated by the Boards of Medicine, Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work who provide behavioral health services and who are licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territory or possession and in good standing with the applicable regulatory agency to engage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth with a patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is for the purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicine services and (ii) the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship with the patient. The bill provides that a practitioner who provides behavioral health services to a patient located in the Commonwealth through use of telemedicine services may provide such services for a period of no more than one year from the date on which the practitioner began providing such services to such patient.

Telemedicine; out of state providers; behavioralhealth services. Allows certain practitioners of professionsregulated by the Boards of Medicine, Counseling, Psychology, andSocial Work who provide behavioral health services and who are licensedin another state, the District of Columbia, or a United States territoryor possession and in good standing with such regulatory agency toengage in the practice of that profession in the Commonwealth witha patient located in the Commonwealth when (i) such practice is forthe purpose of providing continuity of care through the use of telemedicineservices and (ii) the practitioner has previously established a practitioner-patient relationship with the patient. The bill provides that a practitionerwho provides behavioral health services to a patient located in theCommonwealth through use of telemedicine services may provide suchservices for a period of no more than one year from the date on whichthe practitioner began providing such services to such patient.