Dear friends,
This morning I filed my first piece of legislation. I am proud to report that the passage of HB 340 would allow the use of telehealth services in schools throughout Missouri. This bill will not mandate school participation; rather, it will remove the regulatory barrier for schools who wish to provide the service.
During my "listening sessions," I heard time and time again from educators and school staff that health/mental health issues are impeding individual and classroom learning, causing a greater divide in individual performance. This bill is intended to increase access to healthcare for our children, improving health and learning. Please see the embedded press release below and click the links for direct access to the text of HB340 and the Columbia Tribune article.
Thank you for your continued support and help in this effort.
Kip
News Release
January 5, 2014
Kendrick Files Telehealth Bill
COLUMBIA MO - 45th District Missouri House Representative-elect Kip Kendrick announces the filing of House Bill 340 today, which will allow the use of telehealth services in schools throughout Missouri. Kendrick says the bill is a simple regulatory change with big payoffs for students in both public and private schools.
Delivered through a high-speed videoconferencing network, telehealth services allow medical professionals to treat both acute and chronic illnesses in patients distantly located from health services. Telehealth patients receive increased access to medical specialists while avoiding potentially long drives and long wait times. Technological advances have made the effectiveness of telehealth more pronounced in recent years.
Currently, telehealth services are primarily limited to medical facilities due to reimbursement regulations. HB340 will allow medical professionals to be reimbursed through Medicaid for school-based telehealth services. Schools will not be mandated to participate in the telehealth program. Rather, the bill removes the funding barrier for telehealth, making it more feasible for schools to adopt the program. Eighteen other states have adopted similar legislation to expand telehealth services to schools.
"School-based telehealth has proven effective in managing illnesses. Research shows decreased hospitalizations, increased school attendance, and improved school performance. This is an innovative way to improve health and learning for our children,” Kendrick said.
Rachel Mutrux, Program Director for Missouri Telehealth Network praised the bill: “Expanding telehealth locations to include schools significantly improves access to healthcare. School-based telehealth programs will allow students to see their healthcare provider without taking time away from school. With parental consent, students with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or even an ear ache could receive timely treatment through the use of video technology and other tools specifically designed for telemedicine.”
Peter Stiepleman, superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, is also supportive of the bill. "Our legacy will be how well we helped children reach their potential and providing access to medical resources is a major component. School-based telehealth may provide one more tool in our efforts to narrow the achievement gap," he said.
Having worked with children with disabilities for the past three years at Boone County Family Resources, Kendrick says he understands the demand for this service.
“We need to do everything we can to support Missouri’s children and families, including broadening access to 21st century healthcare through school-based telehealth. It just makes sense."
Kip A. Kendrick
Representative-elect - 45th District
Missouri State House of Representatives
Twitter: @kipk45
HOUSE BILL NO. 340
98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE KENDRICK (45).
0774H.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to originating sites for
telehealth services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be
2 known as section 208.677, to read as follows:
208.677. For purposes of the provision of telehealth services, the term “originating
2 site” shall mean a telehealth site where the MO HealthNet participant receiving the
3 telehealth service is located for the encounter. The originating site shall ensure immediate
4 availability of clinical staff during a telehealth encounter if a participant requires
5 assistance. An originating site shall be one of the following locations:
6 (1) Office of a physician or health care provider;
7 (2) Hospital;
8 (3) Critical access hospital;
9 (4) Rural health clinic;
10 (5) Federally qualified health center;
11 (6) Nursing home;
12 (7) Dialysis center;
13 (8) Missouri state habilitation center or regional office;
14 (9) Community mental health center;
15 (10) Missouri state mental health facility;
16 (11) Missouri state facility;
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended
to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 340 2
17 (12) Missouri residential treatment facility licensed by and under contract with the
18 children’s division (CD) that has a contract with the CD. Facilities shall have multiple
19 campuses and have the ability to adhere to technology requirements. Only Missouri
20 licensed psychiatrists, licensed psychologists or provisionally licensed psychologists, and
21 advanced registered nurse practitioners who are enrolled MO HealthNet providers shall
22 be consulting providers at these locations;
23 (13) Comprehensive substance treatment and rehabilitation (CSTAR) program;
24 or
25 (14) School-based health center.
T
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