An Act relative to telehealth and digital equity for patients

This bill updates Massachusetts healthcare laws to ensure that telehealth services are treated the same as in-person visits regarding coverage and administrative rules. It directly affects health insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients by prohibiting insurers from requiring prior authorization for telehealth if it is not required for the same in-person service. The legislation also mandates that all telehealth plans must cover interpreter services for patients with limited English proficiency or those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Additionally, the bill allows insurance carriers to use utilization reviews to check if telehealth is appropriate, but these reviews must be conducted using the same standards applied to face-to-face care.