Senate Bill 739, sponsored by Senator Vogel, has passed in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate. The bill does not allow insurers to deny typically covered services when patients are treated virtually by providers. On the passing of the bill, Vogel said, “This legislation has been a work in progress for the past several legislative sessions, and I am glad to see the vast amount of bipartisan support for telemedicine expansion in our state.”
The bill will significantly expand access to telemedicine in Pennsylvania, especially in rural areas where people live far from the nearest hospital. Senator Vogel said, “This legislation is key to expanding access to telemedicine services to Pennsylvanians and allowing our residents to take care of their health in a way that suits their needs and schedules.”
Lawmakers are focusing on increasing healthcare access in rural areas, which have felt the burden of closures and mergers in the healthcare industry. In Pennsylvania alone, 15 hospitals have closed in the past five years.
With Governor Shapiro’s signature on this bill, Pennsylvania will join 41 other states and the District of Columbia in having laws requiring private insurers to cover telehealth similarly to in-person care.
