H 3230  General Bill, By Herbkersman, Hosey and Caskey
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 44-6-38 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
 SERVICES TO REIMBURSE PRACTITIONERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH TELEHEALTH SERVICES
 DELIVERED TO PATIENTS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.

   12/09/20  House  Prefiled
   12/09/20  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/12/21  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 123)
   01/12/21  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
                     (House Journal-page 123)
   02/09/21  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Caskey

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 44-6-38 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO REIMBURSE PRACTITIONERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH TELEHEALTH SERVICES DELIVERED TO PATIENTS ENROLLED IN MEDICAID.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Article 1, Chapter 6, Title 44 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

    "Section 44-6-38.    (A)    In administering the Medicaid program pursuant to Section 44-6-30(1), the department shall reimburse any authorized practitioner for mental health telehealth services delivered to patients enrolled in Medicaid, provided the practitioner adheres to any legal requirements applicable to the delivery of mental health telehealth services.

    (B)    For purposes of this section:

        (1)    'Authorized practitioner' means any health care provider licensed in this State who is legally authorized to deliver mental health telehealth services pursuant to state law including, but not limited to, Section 40-33-34 and South Carolina Regulation 36-22.

        (2)    'Mental health telehealth services' means the delivery and distribution of mental health-related services and information via electronic information and telecommunication."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.