The purpose of rule 59G-1.057 is to describe service requirements for providers who render Florida Medicaid covered services via telemedicine.

 

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

Medicaid

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

59G-1.057Telemedicine

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of rule 59G-1.057, F.A.C. is to describe service requirements for providers who render Florida Medicaid covered services via telemedicine.

SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: Rules 59G-1.057, F.A.C., Telemedicine and 59G-1.036, F.A.C., Clinical Trials. An additional area to be addressed during the workshop will be the potential regulatory impact Rules 59G-1.057 and 59G-1.036, Florida Administrative Code, will have as provided for under sections 120.54 and 120.541, Florida Statutes.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 409.919 FS.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 409.905 FS.

A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATE AND TIME: November 20, 2015, 10:00 a.m. ‒ 11:30 a.m.

PLACE: Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Building 3, Conference Room C, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5407

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 48 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Kathleen Core. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Kathleen Core, Bureau of Medicaid Policy, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop 20, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5407, telephone: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]

Comments will be received until 5:00 p.m., on November 23, 2015.

 

THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:

 

59G-1.057 Telemedicine.

(1) This rule applies to any person or entity prescribing or reviewing a request for Florida Medicaid services and to all providers of Florida Medicaid services that are enrolled in or registered with the Florida Medicaid program.

(2) Definitions.

(a) Distant Site – Location of the physician or other licensed practitioner delivering the service at the time the service is being provided via a telecommunications system.

(b) Telemedicine – An alternative to the more traditional face-to face method of providing Medicaid services permitting two-way, real time interactive communication between the recipient and the physician or practitioner at the distant site.

(3) Distant site providers may conduct interactive real time audio and video consultation services within the scope of their practice, and in accordance with the service-specific coverage policy codified in Rule Chapter 59G-4, Florida Administrative Code, when the following conditions are met:

(a) The Service is initiated by the treating physician, dentist, advanced registered nurse practitioner, dental hygienist, physician assistant, or community behavioral health provider.

(b) Providers use approved equipment and telemedicine operations, meeting the technical safeguards specified in 45 CFR 164.312, as applicable.

(c) Providers at the distant site must maintain documentation the recipient has given informed consent to receive services through telemedicine in the recipient file.

(4) Florida Medicaid does not reimburse for telehealth services as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Rulemaking Authority 409.919 FS. Law Implemented 409.905 FS. History-New ________.