HB1052 - Relating to health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth appointments with an originating site or distant site located outside this state.

      H.B. No. 1052         AN ACT   relating to health benefit plan coverage of telemedicine,   teledentistry, and telehealth appointments with an originating   site or distant site located outside this state.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 1455.001, Insurance Code, is amended by   amending Subdivision (1-a) and adding Subdivisions (1-b) and (1-c)   to read as follows:                (1-a)   "Distant site" means the location where a health   professional provides a telemedicine medical service,   teledentistry dental service, or telehealth service.                 (1-b)   "Health professional" means:                      (A)  a physician;                      (B)  an individual who is:                            (i)  licensed or certified in this state to   perform health care services; and                            (ii)  authorized to assist:                                  (a)  a physician in providing   telemedicine medical services that are delegated and supervised by   the physician; or                                  (b)  a dentist in providing   teledentistry dental services that are delegated and supervised by   the dentist;                      (C)  a licensed or certified health professional   acting within the scope of the license or certification who does not   perform a telemedicine medical service or a teledentistry dental   service; or                      (D)  a dentist.                 (1-c) "Originating site" means the location where an   individual receives a telemedicine medical service, teledentistry   dental service, or telehealth service.          SECTION 2.  Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:           (e)     A health benefit plan must provide coverage for a   covered health care service or procedure delivered as a   telemedicine medical service, teledentistry dental service, or   telehealth service with an originating site or distant site located   outside this state on the same basis and to the same extent that the   plan provides coverage for the service or procedure delivered as a   telemedicine medical service, teledentistry dental service, or   telehealth service with an originating site and distant site   located in this state if:                 (1)     the individual who receives the service resides   primarily in this state; and                 (2)  the health professional who provides the service:                       (A)     is licensed or otherwise authorized to   provide the service in this state; and                       (B)  has a physical office in this state.          SECTION 3.  Section 1455.004, Insurance Code, as amended by   this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, issued   for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026.  A health   benefit plan delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before   January 1, 2026, is governed by the law as it existed immediately   before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in   effect for that purpose.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 1052 was passed by the House on May   13, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 114, Nays 26, 3 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 1052 was passed by the Senate on May   28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 28, Nays 3.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Date                           _____________________                    Governor