Governor Ned Lamont signed a measure into law on Tuesday extending relaxed rules around virtual health services, including reimbursement parity requirements opposed by the insurance industry.
The new rules, first enacted as emergency measures at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, were extended into 2023. They allow the use of virtual health, or telehealth, by providers including dentists, music and art therapists, physician assistants and physical and occupational therapists.
“Throughout the last year, patients across Connecticut have found that connecting with their medical providers through videoconference or telephone has been incredibly beneficial and practical for a wide variety of reasons, so it absolutely makes sense to allow for these services to continue,” Lamont said.
The law’s requirement that insurers cover all telehealth services and reimburse providers at the same rate for both in-person and virtual visits was opposed by the insurance industry on the grounds that it bypasses traditional negotiations with the industry and could increase healthcare costs.
