Governor DeWine Signs Telemedicine Expansion Act

COLUMBUS – The Telemedicine Expansion Act (House Bill 122) has been signed into law by Governor DeWine, State Representative Adam Holmes (R-Nashport) announced today. The bill was unanimously passed through the Ohio House and Senate before arriving at the governor’s desk. 

“I’m proud to have carried legislation that grants greater access to healthcare across the state,” said Holmes, joint sponsor of the bill. “My hope is that the Telemedicine Expansion Act makes healthcare more convenient and reliable for years to come.   

The key provisions under the bill include:

• Expanding existing telemedicine services to over a dozen other specialties;
• Prohibiting a health benefit plan from imposing cost sharing for telehealth services that exceed the cost sharing for comparable in-person services;
• Expanding the number of telemedicine services covered by Medicaid;
• Empowering the appropriate executive agencies and licensing boards to establish rules governing telemedicine services; and
• Protecting healthcare professionals from liability under claims that the telehealth services they provide do not meet the standard of care that would apply if services were provided in-person. 

“This legislation will allow healthcare providers and patients to take full advantage of modern technology all while not raising healthcare costs and allowing the greatest flexibility for physicians and patients to determine quality care,” added State Rep. Mark Fraizer (R-Newark), joint sponsor of the bill. 

The bill will go into effect on March 23, 2022.