On July 28, 2016, the governor of Rhode Island signed into law HB 7160B, requiring health insurers to cover treatment delivered via telemedicine to the same extent that such treatment would be covered if delivered via in-person consultation. The law adopts a broad definition of "telemedicine," which includes two-way audiovisual communication and the use of store-and-forward technology while excluding audio-only, electronic mail, and facsimile transmissions. While Rhode Island's law requires "coverage" for services provided via telehealth, it does not require health plans to reimburse providers at the same rate for services delivered via telehealth as those delivered in person (i.e., "payment parity"). The law takes effect on January 1, 2018.
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