Congratulations, friends! Two weeks ago we told you about HB 283, the Telehealth Fairness Act, which would have required you and your insurance company to pay doctors for visits over the phone or via computer at the same rate as they would for an in-office visit. We love telehealth, but it’s supposed to decrease cost (good!) and increase access to healthcare (also good!) - so it shouldn’t drive premiums up.
And that’s exactly what this bill would have done. HB283 would have become one of North Carolina’s 57 mandates — laws that require insurance companies (and you) to pay for something. In this case, covering telehealth at the same rate as an in-office visit would drive up everyone’s premiums.
The bill is stopped, at least for the moment. The House Health Committee amended the bill, replacing the mandate with a study of telehealth by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Thank you for paying attention, and thank those of you who raised your voices. For the moment, we’re declaring this one a victory for the cost of healthcare in North Carolina.
Tired of high healthcare costs? Educate yourself about the rest of the North Carolina General Assembly’s mandates. Join us.
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