Telehealth services expanded in bill co-sponsored by Sen. Rezin

Illinois residents will have the option to use telehealth services without having to worry about their insurance.

House Bill 3308, co-sponsored by state Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, prevents insurers from requiring a patient to attend an in-person visit before receiving telehealth services. For patients that prefer an in-person visit, the legislation also prohibits insurers from requiring patients to see a health care provider virtually. Additionally, the legislation prevents an insurer from mandating that physicians offer telehealth services.

Rezin said telehealth has been a critical care tool for Illinoisans throughout the pandemic.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic was at its worst and in-person access to our medical health providers was limited, all of us learned the important role that telehealth services could play in our health care system,” Rezin said in a news release. “Increasing access to those services for all Illinoisans will improve our entire state’s health care system.”

House Bill 3308 unanimously passed out of the General Assembly and was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker on July 22. The law went into effect immediately.