Emergency Rule, 28 TAC § 35.1 (Telemedicine and Telehealth Services), TDI No. 2020-6287

The record

Jurisdiction

Texas

Level

Sector regulator

Authority

Tex. Gov't Code § 2001.034 (emergency rulemaking); Tex. Ins. Code ch. 1455

Issued

2020-03-17 Mar. 17, 2020

Effective

2020-03-17 (immediately) (read as 2020-03-17)

End

Emergency rule (120 days plus 60-day extension under § 2001.034); extension dates not verified (read as 2020-09-30)

In force

Mar. 17, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2020

Quarters

2020 Q22020 Q3

2020 Q22020 Q32020 Q42021 Q12021 Q22021 Q3

Limitation types

Health care ordersOther

Addressees

• health benefit plan issuers
• physicians and providers

Functions reached

• TM telehealth under waivers
• CL clinical intake (compelled shift to remote visits)
• OF billing
• CB payers

Collection

Texas TX

Operative words

The Commissioner of Insurance adopts new 28 TAC §35.1, concerning Telemedicine and Telehealth Services, on an emergency basis, effective immediately.... Under the rule, services that are the same must be reimbursed at the same rate whether provided in-person or through telemedicine. Similarly, the new rule does not permit health benefit plans to require documentation for telemedicine services beyond what the plan already requires for in-person services.

Enforcement

Notes