Bill Text: NJ A4087 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Clarifies that veterinarians are not within ambit of telemedicine and telehealth law.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-06-26 - Senate Amendment (Voice) (Ruiz) [A4087 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4087-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Clarifies that veterinarians are not within ambit of telemedicine and telehealth law.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning telemedicine and telehealth and amending P.L.2017, c.117.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61) is amended to read as follows:
1. As used in P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.):
"Asynchronous store-and-forward" means the acquisition and transmission of images, diagnostics, data, and medical information either to, or from, an originating site or to, or from, the health care provider at a distant site, which allows for the patient to be evaluated without being physically present.
"Cross-coverage service provider" means a health care provider, acting within the scope of a valid license or certification issued pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, who engages in a remote medical evaluation of a patient, without in-person contact, at the request of another health care provider who has established a proper provider-patient relationship with the patient.
"Distant site" means a site at which a health care provider, acting within the scope of a valid license or certification issued pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes, is located while providing health care services by means of telemedicine or telehealth.
"Health care provider" means an individual who provides a health care service to a patient, and includes, but is not limited to, a licensed physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, clinical social worker, physician assistant, professional counselor, respiratory therapist, speech pathologist, audiologist, optometrist, or any other health care professional acting within the scope of a valid license or certification issued pursuant to Title 45 of the Revised Statutes. The term "health care provider" does not include a licensed veterinarian.
"On-call provider" means a licensed or certified health care provider who is available, where necessary, to physically attend to the urgent and follow-up needs of a patient for whom the provider has temporarily assumed responsibility, as designated by the patient's primary care provider or other health care provider of record.
"Originating site" means a site at which a patient is located at the time that health care services are provided to the patient by means of telemedicine or telehealth.
"Telehealth" means
the use of information and communications
technologies, including telephones, remote patient monitoring devices, or other electronic means, to support clinical health care, provider consultation, patient and professional health-related education, public health, health administration, and other services in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.).
"Telemedicine" means the delivery of a health care service using electronic communications, information technology, or other electronic or technological means to bridge the gap between a health care provider who is located at a distant site and a patient who is located at an originating site, either with or without the assistance of an intervening health care provider, and in accordance with the provisions of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-61 et al.). "Telemedicine" does not include the use, in isolation, of electronic mail, instant messaging, phone text, or facsimile transmission.
"Telemedicine or telehealth organization" means a corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company that is organized for the primary purpose of administering services in the furtherance of telemedicine or telehealth.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.310, s.3)
2. The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill clarifies that, for the purposes of the New Jersey telemedicine and telehealth law, the term "health care provider" does not include veterinarians.
