Arizona Telehealth Laws & Reimbursement Policies

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) reimburses for live video for certain services delivered at specific originating sites by specific providers. They reimburse for store-and-forward for specific specialties and for remote patient monitoring for patients with chronic heart failure.

Telemedicine is “the practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the transfer of medical data through interactive audio, video or data communications that occur in the physical presence of the member, including audio or video communications sent to a health care provider for diagnostic or treatment consultation.”

No reference found.

If there will be a recording of the interactive video service, a separate consent must be obtained. See manual for full requirements.

Click for a list of requirements for out-of-state teledentistry.

Contractors shall develop and maintain a network of providers that utilizes telemedicine to support an adequate provider network. Telemedicine shall not replace provider choice and/or member preference for physical delivery.

“Telemedicine means the interactive use of audio, video or other electronic media for the purpose of diagnosis, consultation or treatment. Does not include the sole use of an audio-only telephone, a video-only system, a facsimile machine, instant messages or electronic mail.”

Health Care Service Organizations (HCSO) must provide coverage for specified health care services that are provided through telemedicine if the health care service would be covered were it provided through in-person consultation between the enrollee and a health care provider and provided to an enrollee receiving the service in Arizona. Only applies to specific conditions and settings.

No parity. Requirement for telehealth coverage only applies when certain conditions are met.

Under Arizona Statute, Public Health & Safety, "telemedicine means the practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment and the transfer of medical data through interactive audio, video or data communications that occur in the physical presence of the patient, including audio or video communications sent to a health care provider for diagnostic or treatment consultation.”

Providers must obtain and document oral or written consent before delivery of services. Oral consent should be documented on the patient’s medical record.

Physicians are prohibited from issuing a prescription to patients without having a physical or mental health status examination to establish a provider-patient relationship. The physical or mental health status examination can be conducted during a real-time telemedicine encounter.

Member of the following: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Nurse Licensure Compact, Physical Therapy Compact, and Compact of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.

Arizona explicitly prohibits the use of telemedicine to provide an abortion.