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6.3.65 Telemedicine Services
Telemedicine is defined as the practice of health-care delivery by a provider who is located at a site other than the site where the client is located. Telemedicine requires the use of advanced telecommunications technology and is used for the purposes of evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment.
Only those services that involve direct face-to-face interactive video communication between the client and the distant-site provider constitute a telemedicine interactive video consultation. Telephone conversations, chart reviews, electronic mail messages, and facsimile transmissions alone do not constitute a telemedicine interactive video consultation and will not be reimbursed as telemedicine services.
Use of telemedicine services within ICF-MR State Schools is subject to the policy established by DSHS and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) established policies.
The provider requesting the telemedicine service must maintain medical record documentation indicating the medical necessity for the service. The referring provider is responsible for contacting the distant-site provider and arranging for the telemedicine service. In the absence of a referring provider, the distant-site provider is responsible for arranging the telemedicine service.
More than one medically necessary telemedicine service may be reimbursed for the same date of service and place of service, if the services are billed by physicians of different specialties. Documentation for a service provided via telemedicine must be the same as for a comparable in-person service.
Providers may not disclose any medical information revealed by the client or discovered by the physician in connection with the treatment of the client via telemedicine without proper authorization from the patient.
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