HB 234-INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR TELEMEDICINE                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:50:54 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  COSTELLO   reconvened  the   meeting  and   announced  the                                                               
consideration  of HB  234.  She  noted that  this  is the  second                                                               
hearing,  public testimony  is closed,  and there  is a  proposed                                                               
committee substitute (CS).                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL moved  to adopt the Senate CS for  CS for HB 234,                                                               
labeled 29-LS1251\H, as the working document.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR COSTELLO objected for an explanation of the changes.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
WESTON  EILER,   Staff,  Senate   Labor  and   Commerce  Standing                                                               
Committee and  Senator Costello,  explained that  the substantive                                                               
change  in   HB  234,   version  H,  is   to  replace   the  term                                                               
"telemedicine" with "telehealth" throughout the bill.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS questioned the reason for the change.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
MR.  EILER replied  telehealth is  a more  encompassing, forward-                                                               
looking term.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL  added that she  submitted the  amendment because                                                               
the term  telemedicine was coined  in the 1990s and  is outdated.                                                               
The term  "telehealth" encompasses all  the types of  health care                                                               
that is delivered electronically.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  removed her  objection  and  finding no  further                                                               
objection, stated the SCS is adopted.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report the  Senate CS for CS for HB 234,                                                               
labeled    29-LS1251\H,    from   committee    with    individual                                                               
recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  announced  that   without  objection,  SCS  CSHB                                                               
234(L&C) is reported from the  Senate Labor and Commerce Standing                                                               
Committee.