The General Assembly approved House Bill 140 Tuesday that is aimed at expanding access to healthcare through telehealth medicine. The bill would codify current COVID-19 related telehealth provisions in the statute, ensuring Kentuckians have continued access to medical care.
State Representative Deanna Frazier, who sponsored the bill, says she is proud that her colleagues passed this important measure with unanimous support in both the Senate and House. She added the utilization of telehealth has been an important component in addressing the spread of COVID-19. She said both patients and providers alike agree telehealth has allowed for timely, flexible, and efficient care, and is an effective tool in bringing healthcare to every corner of the Commonwealth.
As defined in HB 140, telehealth means a mode of delivering healthcare services through the use of telecommunication technologies, including but not limited to synchronous and asynchronous technology, remote patient monitoring technology, and audio-only encounters by a health care provider to a patient or to another health care provider at a different location.
The legislation is a continuation of the provisions included in Senate Bill 150, which was passed during the 2020 Legislative Session and was an integral part of the General Assembly’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
HB 140 now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.
