Regional centers: telehealth.

The Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act authorizes the State Department of Developmental Services to contract with regional centers to provide services and support to individuals with developmental disabilities. This bill would, until January 1, 2019, require the department to inform all regional centers that any appropriate health care service and dentistry may be provided through the use of telehealth, as defined, to consumers of regional center services. The bill would require the department to provide technical assistance to regional centers on the use of telehealth and to request those centers to consider the use of telehealth services for inclusion in training programs for parents of consumers. The bill would require that the provision of a service through the use of telehealth be voluntary and immediately discontinued at the request of the consumer or his or her parent, legal guardian, or conservator, as appropriate.