Texas Governor Continues Payment Parity for Telehealth Through 2020
Governor Greg Abbott has ordered that state-regulated health plans continue to pay providers for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care through the end of 2020.
Source: ThinkStock
- State-regulated health plans in Texas will continue to reimburse for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person care through the end of the year.
Governor Greg Abbott announced the payment parity deal last Friday, a move designed to help care providers dealing with a surge of cases brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. He said the state’s Employee Retirement System and Teacher Retirement System would also continue payment parity for telehealth through 2020.
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the State of Texas has expanded telehealth options and availability so that Texans can continue to access the health care services they need,” Abbott said in a press release. "Millions of Texans have chosen to use telemedicine over the past several months, and this new agreement with Texas network health insurers will help ensure that Texans can continue utilizing telehealth options. I thank the health plans for stepping up to meet the needs of our state during the COVID-19 pandemic.”