TELEMEDICINE MEDICAL SERVICES, TELEDENTISTRY DENTAL SERVICES, AND TELEHEALTH SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS.

(a) In providing covered benefits to a child with special health care needs, a health plan provider must permit benefits to be provided through telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services in accordance with policies developed by the commission.

(b) The policies must provide for:

(1) the availability of covered benefits appropriately provided through telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services that are comparable to the same types of covered benefits provided without the use of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services; and

(2) the availability of covered benefits for different services performed by multiple health care providers during a single session of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, telehealth services, or any combination of those services, if the executive commissioner determines that delivery of the covered benefits in that manner is cost-effective in comparison to the costs that would be involved in obtaining the services from providers without the use of telemedicine medical services, teledentistry dental services, and telehealth services, including the costs of transportation and lodging and other direct costs.

(c) In developing the policies required by Subsection (a), the executive commissioner shall consult with:

(1) The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston;

(2) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center;

(3) the Department of State Health Services;

(4) providers of telemedicine hub sites in this state;

(5) providers of services to children with special health care needs; and

(6) representatives of consumer or disability groups affected by changes to services for children with special health care needs.