Telemedicine and telehealth coverage for mental health and behavioral health care services

Home Bulletins Commissioner bulletins – 2021 B-0015-21 June 8, 2021 To:   Health benefit plan issuers Re:   Telemedicine and telehealth coverage for mental health and behavioral health care services The COVID-19 pandemic increased consumer interest in telemedicine, and the Texas Department of Insurance reminds health plan benefit issuers that state law continues to require telemedicine options for covered services. Telemedicine and telehealth requirements in Insurance Code Section 1455.004 extend to covered mental health and behavioral health care services. Section 1455.004 requires a health benefit plan to provide coverage for a covered health care service or procedure delivered by an in-network health professional as a telemedicine medical service or telehealth service on the same basis and to the same extent that the plan provides coverage for the service or procedure in an in-person setting. For questions about this bulletin, contact LifeHealth@tdi.texas.gov. For more information, contact: LifeHealth@tdi.texas.gov Last updated: 6/8/2021