Over the past three legislative sessions, the Texas Medical Association has made significant progress in advocating that Texas fully implement telemedicine as another means to expand access to care.
TMA aims to build on that progress this session.
The Senate Transportation Committee this morning considered Senate Bill 5 by Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville), a measure to expand broadband access in Texas – thereby expanding the state’s telemedicine capabilities. SB 5 would create a state broadband development office that would establish a program to award loans, grants, and other financial incentives to expand broadband.
In committee testimony today supporting SB 5, TMA Vice President for Advocacy Dan Finch told lawmakers telemedicine has become “a very important tool in the physician toolbox to take care of patients,” as well as an important tool to extend care to underserved areas of the state.
“Telemedicine has the ability to overcome a lot of the barriers of time and distance that we see in parts of our state and allow people access to good-quality care,” he told the committee.
Given Texas’ continued population growth, the enduring nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the fact that 85% of Texas counties are rural, physicians say the need for expanding telemedicine capabilities has never been more timely.
In fact, 74% of Texas physicians have incorporated telemedicine into their practices since March 1, 2020, according to a TMA survey. Patients likewise have readily adopted telemedicine as part of their health care: 72% of patients had their first telemedicine visit since the onset of the pandemic, and nearly 75% intend to keep it as a standard part of their care, according to research by the data management firm Kyruus.
Texas legislators have taken steps to ensure that telemedicine visits are provided by Texas-licensed physicians, that those visits are held to the same standard of care as in-person visits, and that physicians and their patients can choose the platform that works best for their needs.
TMA’s 2021 legislative recommendations support maintaining those protections and expanding on them to ensure that:
- Covered services provided to a health plan-enrolled patient by a contracted physician are paid at the contracted rate. The means of providing the service – whether in person or via telemedicine – should be the choice of the physician and the patient.
- Telemedicine, defined by statute as the practice of medicine, adheres to licensing and regulatory standards established by the Medical Practice Act and enforced by the Texas Medical Board.
Several other telemedicine bills have been filed this session including:
- House Bill 4 by Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo), which would make permanent the Medicaid, CHIP, and other technological flexibilities introduced as part of the public health emergency. The companion bill is Senate Bill 412 by Sen. Dawn Buckingham, MD (R-Lakeway).
- House Bill 5 by Rep. Trent Ashby (R-Lufkin), which would expand broadband access across Texas.
- House Bill 280 by Rep. Philip Cortez (D-San Antonio), which would direct the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create short- and long-term plans for expanding telemedicine and telehealth access.
- House Bill 515 by Rep. Tom Oliverson, MD (R-Cypress), which would require telemedicine visits be paid at the same rate as in-person visits. Companion bills are House Bill 522 by Rep. Julie Johnson (D-Carrollton), House Bill 980 by Rep. Art Fierro (D-El Paso), and Senate Bill 228 by Sen. Cesar Blanco (D-El Paso).
Read more about TMA’s advocacy on telemedicine access and payment.
Easy Ways to Get Involved in TMA Advocacy
Your participation is a vital component of our legislative success. In addition to First Tuesdays at the Capitol, take advantage of these opportunities:
Stay up to date on bills TMA is following closely. And take advantage of other opportunities to get involved with our advocacy efforts.