| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Negative | Neutral | Neutral | Negative | Neutral |
Relating to the reimbursement and payment of claims by certain health benefit plan issuers for telemedicine medical services and telehealth services.
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time due to the inability to determine the impact on Medicaid service utilization.
HB 980 would require a health benefit plan issuer to reimburse a preferred or contracted health professional at the same rate for a covered service regardless of whether or not the service was by phone or in person.
Texas Action opposes HB 980 because it violates the limited government and free market principles. The costs of telehealth services are manifestly lower than in-person health services, as such it makes no sense whatsoever for the state to mandate that health insurers reimburse health care providers as if they services were the same.