Senate Bill 144, which will require Oregon payers to cover healthcare services delivered via secure, synchronized video chats, has passed, according to a report from The Lund Report.
If the bill is signed into law, it will take effect in January. Reimbursement for the telemedicine visits are not required to be the same as an in-person office visit. Reimbursement will be based on contract negotiations.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield and Health Net Health Plan both sought to delay the legislation until 2017, according to the report.