What is Telehealth and how is it regulated in Florida?
Telehealth is a method of delivering healthcare services from a distance, using technology, without the need for an in-person visit. It can be used for various services such as consultations, therapy, education, and more. In Florida, telehealth services are overseen by the Florida Board of Medicine. They have established rules and regulations to protect patients, ensuring they receive the same standard of care as in-person services. Laws specific to Telehealth Florida also require that Florida-licensed healthcare professionals providing telehealth services must be registered with the appropriate Florida board.
Medicaid Telehealth Reimbursement
Summary
FL Medicaid reimburses for real time interactive telemedicine according to administrative code, but Medicaid Manuals only indicate reimbursement in Community Behavioral Health Services. No reference was found in regards to reimbursement for store-and-forward or remote patient monitoring.
Definitions
Telemedicine is “the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical care to individuals at a distance, and to transmit the information needed to provide that care.”
Live Video
Policy
Some telemedicine services reimbursed in the Community Behavioral Health Services, per the Fee Schedule.
Eligible Services/Specialties
Some telemedicine services reimbursed in the Community Behavioral Health Services, per the Fee Schedule.
Eligible Providers
Telemedicine is available for use by all providers of Florida Medicaid services that are enrolled in or registered with the Florida Medicaid program and who are licensed within their scope of practice to perform the service.
Eligible Sites
No reference found.
Geographic Limits
No reference found.
Facility/Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Store-and-Forward
Policy
No reference found.
Eligible Services/Specialties
No reference found.
Geographic Limits
No reference found.
Transmission Fee
No reference found.
Remote Patient Monitoring
Policy
No reference found.
Conditions
No reference found.
Provider Limitations
No reference found.
Other Restrictions
No reference found.
Email/Phone/Fax
No reimbursement for telephone, chart review, electronic mail messages or facsimile transmissions.
Consent
No reference found.
Out of State Providers
No reference found.
Miscellaneous
Click for a list of miscellaneous requirements.
Private Payer Laws
Definitions
No reference found.
Requirements
No reference found.
Parity
No reference found.
Professional Regulation/Health & Safety
Definitions
“Telemedicine means the practice of medicine by a licensed Florida physician or physician assistant where patient care, treatment, or services are provided through the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications. Telemedicine shall not include the provision of health care services only through an audio only telephone, email messages, text messages, facsimile transmission, U.S. Mail or other parcel service, or any combination thereof.”
Consent
No reference found.
Online Prescribing
Controlled substances shall not be prescribed through the use of telemedicine, except for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Exception: physicians can order controlled substances through the use of telemedicine for patients hospitalized in a facility licensed pursuant to Ch. 395, F.S.
Cross State Licensing
Member of the Nurses Licensure Compact.
Miscellaneous
Click for a list of miscellaneous requirements.
Source: Center for Connected Health Policy
https://www.cchpca.org