2016 -- S 2756 AS AMENDED

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LC005396

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE

     Introduced By: Senator V. Susan Sosnowski

     Date Introduced: March 10, 2016

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness

Insurance Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-18-82. Telemedicine services. – Every group health insurance contract, plan, or

group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical

coverage, and every group policy which provides for treatment of persons for the prevention,

cure, or correction of any illness or physical or mental condition shall provide coverage for the

use of telecommunication and information technologies utilized to provide clinical health care for

subscribers who reside on islands located within the state that are not connected to the mainland

by any bridge or other structure.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-19-73. Telemedicine services. -- Every group health insurance contract, plan, or

group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical

coverage, and every group policy which provides for treatment of persons for the prevention,

cure, or correction of any illness or physical or mental condition shall provide coverage for the

use of telecommunication and information technologies utilized to provide clinical health care for

subscribers who reside on islands located within the state that are not connected to the mainland

by any bridge or other structure.

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-20-69. Telemedicine services. -- Every group health insurance contract, plan, or

group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical

coverage, and every group policy which provides for treatment of persons for the prevention,

cure, or correction of any illness or physical or mental condition shall provide coverage for the

use of telecommunication and information technologies utilized to provide clinical health care for

subscribers who reside on islands located within the state that are not connected to the mainland

by any bridge or other structure.

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     27-41-86. Telemedicine services. -- Every group health insurance contract, plan, or

group policy delivered, issued for delivery or renewed in this state which provides medical

coverage, and every group policy which provides for treatment of persons for the prevention,

cure, or correction of any illness or physical or mental condition shall provide coverage for the

use of telecommunication and information technologies utilized to provide clinical health care for

subscribers who reside on islands located within the state that are not connected to the mainland

by any bridge or other structure.

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage on January 1, 2017.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE

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     This act would require insurance policies to provide coverage for the use of

telecommunication services rendered to subscribers who reside on islands located within the state

that are not connected to the mainland by any bridge or other structure.

     This act would take effect upon passage on January 1, 2017.

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LC005396

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