40-2,212. Same; confidentiality. (a) The same requirements for patient privacy and confidentiality under the health insurance portability and accountability act of 1996 and 42 C.F.R. § 2.13, as applicable, that apply to healthcare services delivered via in-person contact shall also apply to healthcare services delivered via telemedicine. Nothing in this section shall supersede the provisions of any state law relating to the confidentiality, privacy, security or privileged status of protected health information.

(b) Telemedicine may be used to establish a valid provider-patient relationship.

(c) The same standards of practice and conduct that apply to healthcare services delivered via in-person contact shall also apply to healthcare services delivered via telemedicine.

(d) (1) A person authorized by law to provide and who provides telemedicine services to a patient shall provide the patient with guidance on appropriate follow-up care.

(2) (A) Except when otherwise prohibited by any other provision of law, when the patient consents and the patient has a primary care or other treating physician, the person providing telemedicine services shall send within three business days a report to such primary care or other treating physician of the treatment and services rendered to the patient in the telemedicine encounter.

(B) A person licensed, registered, certified or otherwise authorized to practice by the behavioral sciences regulatory board shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subparagraph (A).

(e) This section shall take effect on and after January 1, 2019.

History: L. 2018, ch. 98, § 3; July 1.