Health care coverage: telemedicine.

Existing law provides that it is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the practice of telemedicine as a legitimate means by which an individual may receive medical services from a health care provider without person-to-person contact with the provider. Existing law defines telemedicine as the practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of medical data, and education using interactive audio, video, or data communications. Existing law sets forth procedures a health care practitioner must follow prior to providing health care through telemedicine. This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation related to telemedicine.