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CHANGES TO COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH

Bulletin 20-07

TO: ALL HEALTH CARE INSURERS IN THE STATE OF ALASKA AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES

RE: CHANGES TO COVERAGE FOR TELEHEALTH

This bulletin summarizes the changes made to Alaska insurance law (AS 21.42.422) resulting from the
passage of SCS HB 29(HSS) am S in the second session of the 31st Legislature that was signed into law by
the Governor on March 16, 2020. This bulletin is for informational purposes only and is not intended to
be a full analysis of the statutory change to the insurance code, and a statement in this bulletin does not
supersede or modify in any way the statutory provisions of the bill. Please review the bill carefully and
the rest of Alaska’s insurance laws to assure your compliance when transacting insurance business in
Alaska.

The new law may be found at: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp. Enter the bill number HB29
to find the full text and legislative history of the bill. You may obtain a copy of the bill by contacting the
Alaska Legislative Information Office.

Please note that this bill has an IMMEDIATE effective date of 3/17/2020.

The bill revises AS 21.42.422 to expand telehealth coverage to all covered services of health care
insurance plans in the individual and group markets subject to Title 21. Services must be provided by a
health care provider licensed in Alaska. A prior in-person visit must not be required.
Insurers are required to implement the requirements of AS 21.42.422 immediately. The division expects
insurers to review their insurance contracts and make the necessary form filings to implement these
changes by May 17, 2020 or as soon as practicable.
Insurers are reminded of the following:

• AS 21.07.030 requires that if a health care insurer provides for services through a network, the
health care insurer shall also offer a non-network option to covered persons. This requirement is
applicable to telehealth. Consumers must be able to access telehealth services from both
network and non-network providers.
• AS 21.42.422 does not require health care providers to use a particular technology platform,
such as an insurer’s proprietary software for services to be covered. Health care providers must
use a HIPAA compliant service to protect consumer privacy.
• The statute does not limit the location of services for telehealth. Within reason, if a service is
covered when in-person the service should also be covered when performed via telehealth.
• The federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires that quantitative and nonquantitative elements must be comparative between medical/surgical and behavioral health
services.

Questions relating to this bulletin can be referred to Sarah Bailey, Life and Health Supervisor at
sarah.bailey@alaska.gov.


Dated March 17, 2020

Lori Wing-Heier, Director

Attachments, History, Details

Attachments

Revision History

Created 3/18/2020 8:13:25 AM by jlwillard

Details

Department: Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Category: Public Notices
Sub-Category:
Location(s): Statewide
Project/Regulation #: B20-07
 
Publish Date: 3/18/2020
Archive Date: 5/18/2020
 
Events/Deadlines: