HB 358-INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH  4:11:39 PM CHAIR KITO announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 358, "An Act relating to insurance coverage for benefits provided through telehealth; and providing for an effective date." 4:11:51 PM REPRESENTATIVE SPOHNHOLZ, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 358 as prime sponsor. She paraphrased the sponsor statement [included in committee packet], which reads as follows [original punctuation provided]: HB 358 will enhance access to health care services, primarily mental health and primary care, for Alaskans who have insurance plans with Moda, Premera Blue Cross, United Healthcare, and Aetna Life Insurance, to name a few. HB 358 does this by requiring the insurers previously listed to provide insurance coverage for health care services provided through telehealth. Increasing access to health care services throughout Alaska is crucial. Because of our unique geographical landscape and our rural and aging communities spread out across the state, telehealth can enhance access to health care and improve clinical outcomes. Here are some of the advantages of telehealth: • Better access and privacy in rural, remote, and urban areas of Alaska • Early intervention which can lead to savings • Greater access for referrals to providers who specialize in treating specific health issues • Better, and potentially quicker, access means a potential reduction in suicides, domestic violence and other serious events • Zero impact on state budget Under HB 358, telehealth benefits for all covered health care services, including mental health benefits, will be reimbursable for health care providers licensed in the state without an initial in- person appointment. Depending on the patient's needs, a telehealth appointment can provide education, reviewing of prescriptions and checking symptoms, all at a distance on a secure system. Health care services delivered via telehealth is happening all over the country, and Alaska is at the forefront of providing telehealth services for urban, rural, aging, and the underserved communities across the state. 4:13:10 PM BERNICE NESBITT, Staff, Representative Spohnholz, testified on HB 358 on behalf of Representative Spohnholz, prime sponsor. She paraphrased the sectional analysis, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: Section 1. AS 21.42.422 has been amended to require insurance coverage for benefits provided via telehealth. Section 2. AS 21.42.422 is a new subsection that defines health care insurer as a person transacting the business of health care insurance except for a nonfederal governmental plan. It also adds the definition of telehealth under 47.05.270(e) as the practice of health care delivery, evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, using the transfer of health care data through audio, visual, or data communications, performed over two or more locations between providers who are physically separated from the recipient or from each other or between a provider and a recipient who are physically separated from each other. Section 3 The changes to Section 1 of this bill applies to health care insurance plans that are offered, issued, delivered, or renewed on or after the effective date. Section 4 The effective date is July 1, 2019. MS. NESBITT shared that she had heard from the major providers in the state, and none had expressed opposition to the proposed legislation. 4:15:52 PM VICTORIA KNAPP, CEO, Mat-Su Health Services, testified in support of HB 358. She stated there is a need for psychiatric providers in the state. She said the demand is higher than the availability. She explained that the company had moved towards telehealth to meet that need. She said often patients go without evaluations because their provider will not pay for evaluations via telehealth. 4:17:55 PM LYNN FREEMAN, MD, testified in support of HB 358. She indicated she was testifying from the private provider perspective. She described her patient pool. She said some are in chronic pain and were facing surgery. She said pain can be made worse by having to drive to appointments. 4:20:25 PM CHAIR KITO opened public testimony on HB 358. CHAIR KITO held over HB 358.