(a) For purposes of this section: (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Social Services; (2) “department” means the Department of Social Services; and (3) “telehealth” has the same meaning as provided in § 19a-906.

(b) The department shall provide coverage under the Medicaid program for telehealth services for categories of health care services that the commissioner determines are (1) clinically appropriate to be provided by means of telehealth, (2) cost effective for the state, and (3) likely to expand access to medically necessary services where there is a clinical need for those services to be provided by telehealth or for Medicaid recipients for whom accessing appropriate health care services poses an undue hardship. The commissioner may provide coverage of telehealth services pursuant to this section notwithstanding any provision of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies that would otherwise prohibit coverage of telehealth services. The commissioner may implement policies and procedures as necessary to carry out the provisions of this section while in the process of adopting the policies and procedures as regulations, provided notice of intent to adopt the regulations is published in accordance with the provisions of § 17b-10.

(c) The commissioner shall seek any federal waiver or amend the Medicaid state plan as necessary to attempt to secure federal reimbursement for the costs of providing such coverage under the Medicaid program. An application for such waiver or proposed amendment to the Medicaid state plan shall be submitted to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies as required under the provisions of § 17b-8.

(d) Not later than August 1, 2020, the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services and public health on (1) the categories of health care services in which the department is utilizing telehealth services, (2) in what cities or regions of the state such services are being offered, and (3) any cost savings realized by the state by providing telehealth services.