(a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, or renews in the state a health care insurance plan in the group or individual market shall provide coverage for benefits provided through telehealth by a health care provider licensed in this state and may not require that prior in-person contact occur between a health care provider and a patient before payment is made for covered services.
Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 21.42.422
Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association, organization, business trust, or society, as well as a natural person. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
state: means the State of Alaska unless applied to the different parts of the United States and in the latter case it includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Alaska Statutes 01.10.060
(b) In this section,
(1) “health care insurer” means a person transacting the business of health care insurance, including an insurance company licensed under Alaska Stat. Chapter 21.09, a hospital or medical service corporation licensed under Alaska Stat. Chapter 21.87, a fraternal benefit society licensed under Alaska Stat. Chapter 21.84, a health maintenance organization licensed under Alaska Stat. Chapter 21.86, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association described in Alaska Stat. § 21.55.010, a multiple employer welfare arrangement, a church plan, and a governmental plan, except for a nonfederal governmental plan that elects to be excluded under 42 U.S.C. §§ 300gg-21 (a)(2) (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996);(2) “telehealth” has the meaning given in Alaska Stat. § 47.05.270 (e).
