Delaware News

Trinidad Navarro Statement on Signing of Telemedicine Bill

Captive | Captive Insurance | Insurance Commissioner | Date Posted: Friday, July 17, 2020


Governor Carney, Sign Language Interpreter, Trinidad Navarro, David Bentz, Bryan Townsend

Temporary codification of expanded telemedicine options helps all Delawareans

Today Governor John Carney signed, via livestream, HS 1 for HB 348, sponsored by Representative David Bentz, which temporarily codifies a number of consumer-friendly provisions developed during COVID-19 that can increase access to health care due to expanding telemedicine.

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro issued the following statement:

“In response to the unprecedented times we are facing, Delaware residents have been fortunate to have numerous consumer- and provider-friendly provisions enacted over the last several months with the leadership and the support of the Governor, General Assembly, DHSS, medical provider groups, insurers, and our office. Together, we have increased remote access to healthcare, ensuring that those concerned about visiting facilities in-person do not need to do so during coronavirus.

Delaware has long been a leader in telemedicine – as of December 2019, we were one of only ten states that required private insurers to reimburse virtual visits at the same rate, and with the same freedom from restrictions as in-person visits. Now, states across the country are following our lead in creating consumer- and provider-friendly laws like ours.

While I don’t manage the professional regulation components regarding what types of tele-communication are allowable, I am so happy to see that HS 1 for HB 348 will allow for phone-based visits to further assist rural residents and those that fall into the technological divide in accessing care.

Telemedicine isn’t a solution specific to the pandemic – it helps people in areas without local providers, those with limited access to transportation, individuals with disabilities – even parents who would have to find childcare to go to an in-person appointment. Telemedicine helps everyone, and it is here to stay. I look forward to working with the General Assembly next year to review our Code and develop permanent solutions.”

The Delaware Department of Insurance will be issuing a bulletin to the industry to inform them of the continued telemedicine requirements.

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Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

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Trinidad Navarro Statement on Signing of Telemedicine Bill

Captive | Captive Insurance | Insurance Commissioner | Date Posted: Friday, July 17, 2020


Governor Carney, Sign Language Interpreter, Trinidad Navarro, David Bentz, Bryan Townsend

Temporary codification of expanded telemedicine options helps all Delawareans

Today Governor John Carney signed, via livestream, HS 1 for HB 348, sponsored by Representative David Bentz, which temporarily codifies a number of consumer-friendly provisions developed during COVID-19 that can increase access to health care due to expanding telemedicine.

Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro issued the following statement:

“In response to the unprecedented times we are facing, Delaware residents have been fortunate to have numerous consumer- and provider-friendly provisions enacted over the last several months with the leadership and the support of the Governor, General Assembly, DHSS, medical provider groups, insurers, and our office. Together, we have increased remote access to healthcare, ensuring that those concerned about visiting facilities in-person do not need to do so during coronavirus.

Delaware has long been a leader in telemedicine – as of December 2019, we were one of only ten states that required private insurers to reimburse virtual visits at the same rate, and with the same freedom from restrictions as in-person visits. Now, states across the country are following our lead in creating consumer- and provider-friendly laws like ours.

While I don’t manage the professional regulation components regarding what types of tele-communication are allowable, I am so happy to see that HS 1 for HB 348 will allow for phone-based visits to further assist rural residents and those that fall into the technological divide in accessing care.

Telemedicine isn’t a solution specific to the pandemic – it helps people in areas without local providers, those with limited access to transportation, individuals with disabilities – even parents who would have to find childcare to go to an in-person appointment. Telemedicine helps everyone, and it is here to stay. I look forward to working with the General Assembly next year to review our Code and develop permanent solutions.”

The Delaware Department of Insurance will be issuing a bulletin to the industry to inform them of the continued telemedicine requirements.

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , , , , , , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.