IOWA TELEMEDICINE LAW
TELEMEDICINE PROVIDERS HAVE JUST CLEARED A CONTENTIOUS HURDLE IN IOWA – THE IOWA SUPREME COURT OVERTURNED A 2013 RULE PROHIBITING DOCTORS FROM PROVIDING TELEMEDICINE TO ADMINISTER ABORTION INDUCING PILLS TO RURAL PATIENTS. CONSIDERED TO BE AN ARBITRARY PROHIBITION WHICH HINDERED PATIENT ACCESS TO CLINICAL HEALTH CARE, THE DECISION TO OVERTURN THIS RULE POINTS IOWA IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
READY TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT IOWA’S TELEMEDICINE POLICY? KEEP ON READING.
Parity Law
Iowa does not currently have a private payer parity law that would legally require private payers to cover telemedicine. However, several new bills were proposed in the 2015 legislature in attempt to ensure some parity for private payers and Medicaid, so a parity law may be in Iowa’s future.
Keep in mind, many private payers will still cover telemedicine. A parity law simply mandates that coverage.
Covered Health Services
Iowa Medicaid has not yet published an official telehealth policy.
However, according to the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHPCA):
“Iowa Medicaid will pay for otherwise covered medical services if rendered via telemedicine and if the standard in the medical community would support rendering those services via telemedicine. CCHP has reached out to Iowa Medicaid staff, who have confirmed this practice in Iowa Medicaid, stating that a service rendered via telemedicine must meet the general provisions for Medicaid covered services outlined in 441 Iowa Administrative Code 79.9(2).”
Online Prescriptions
Pharmacists are prohibited from dispensing prescription drugs if the pharmacist knows or should have known that the prescription was issued solely on the basis of an Internet-based questionnaire, an Internet-based consult, or a telephone consult, and was completed without a pre-existing patient-provider relationship.
Informed Patient Consent
Iowa providers are required to get a patient’s consent for telemedicine. You can read more about how to do informed patient consent for telemedicine.
Interstate Medical Licensing
Iowa has adopted the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB)’s Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. The FSMB compact allows an Interstate Commission to create an expedited license process for physicians to apply in other states.
Helpful Resources
Center for Connected Health Policy – Iowa State Page
Great Plains Regional Telehealth Resource Center
The American Telemedicine Association State Policy Matrix