(NASHVILLE) Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) has named two Murfreesboro legislators to lead the House Electronic Delivery of Health Care Committee. State Rep. Bryan Terry serves as committee chair and State Rep. Charlie Baum as vice-chair.
The committee was formed following Gov. Bill Lee’s proclamation calling for a special session of the Tennessee General Assembly to convene Aug. 10 in order to address Covid-19 liability protections, telehealth services and laws governing state property.
The 25-member committee led by Terry and Baum was tasked with creating greater accesses to electronic delivery of health care and its coverage under insurance policies. The committee helped craft legislation making telemedicine more available to Tennesseans as an alternative to in-person visits with a physician during the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the committee’s goals was to expand telemedicine across a variety of specialties and improve patient outcomes.
“The demand for this method of health care delivery has surged. Increasing access and affordability will remove barriers for Tennessee patients but also give them greater health outcomes,” Terry said. “The bill will allow patients to have greater access to not only physicians and specialists, but nurse practitioners, speech and occupational therapists, and other providers. Improving health care access and safety for all during the COVID-19 pandemic is a priority.”
House Bill 8002 ensures insurers cover the costs of clinically appropriate, medically necessary services through telemedicine if that visit would be covered for an in-person visit. It was carefully vetted to prioritize Tennessee patients having access to their own health providers.
“Virtual technologies and remote patient monitoring will be an extraordinary benefit to us all as we continue to take extra precautions to safeguard our health and the health of our loved ones during this pandemic,” Baum said. “This will significantly improve patient outcomes.”
To read more about House Bill 8002, visit here.
