Tennessee lawmakers this session have sought modest changes to the stateâs telehealth laws, adding capabilities for behavioral health and safety-net providers to leverage after health care regulations are put back into place post-pandemic.
Gov. Bill Lee last week signed a bill sponsored by Sen. Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) and Rep. Iris Rudder (R-Winchester) that expands the point of care for behavioral health services to a patientâs home. The legislation effectively clears the way for insurance reimbursement for telehealth services that have in the past year and change benefited from a temporary reprieve in digital health regulations.
Both chambers passed the bill with unanimous support from lawmakers and are now considering a separate piece of legislation that strips back state licensing laws for health care professionals providing services for free.