AUSTIN – The state is broadening its Medicaid coverage for telehealth and remote patient monitoring services, along with expanding broadband connectivity to rural parts of the state to facilitate the expansion of health options for medical providers.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed legislation pertaining to telehealth and remote patient monitoring services and broadband expansion into law.
Abbott said that he was honored to have expanded the services in the state.
"I am proud to have signed laws that increase high speed internet access & expand telehealth services throughout Texas," he said in a July 15 tweet.
Abbott's signature adds Texas to a list of more than 20 states that have permanently expanded telehealth coverage and access past the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Bill 4 relates "to the provision and delivery of certain health care services in this state, including services under Medicaid and other public benefits programs, using telecommunications or information technology and to reimbursement for some of those services."
State Rep. Four Price (R-Amarillo), who sponsored House Bill 4, told local news outlets that the law would help rural communities through telemedicine.
“Whether you’re a rural health clinic, FQHC, a private provider, Medicaid, we really extended the benefits of telehealth and telemedicine through this bill and through bills we’ve previously passed,” Price said.
House Bill 5 relates "to the expansion of broadband services to certain areas."