A measure that would require health insurers to cover certain services provided by telemedicine won the approval of a state house committee Tuesday. From Phoenix, KJZZ’s Mark Brodie has more.
MARK BRODIE: Senate Bill 1353 would apply to services including cardiology, trauma, mental health disorders and infectious diseases, and would be limited to rural parts of the state starting in 2015. The measure would require insurers to cover those services provided through telemedicine if they’re covered for in-person treatment. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Senator Gail Griffin of Hereford says telemedicine can save time, lives and money, especially in rural areas. The measure has already cleared the state senate – Tuesday’s unanimous support in the House Insurance and Retirement Committee sends the bill to the full chamber for debate.