Subdivision 1. Applicability. For purposes of sections 62A.67 to 62A.672, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given.

Subd. 2. Distant site. "Distant site" means a site at which a licensed health care provider is located while providing health care services or consultations by means of telemedicine.

Subd. 3. Health care provider. "Health care provider" has the meaning provided in section 62A.63, subdivision 2.

Subd. 4. Health carrier. "Health carrier" has the meaning provided in section 62A.011, subdivision 2.

Subd. 5. Health plan. "Health plan" means a health plan as defined in section 62A.011, subdivision 3, and includes dental plans as defined in section 62Q.76, subdivision 3, but does not include dental plans that provide indemnity-based benefits, regardless of expenses incurred and are designed to pay benefits directly to the policyholder.

Subd. 6. Licensed health care provider. "Licensed health care provider" means a health care provider who is:

(1) licensed under chapter 147, 147A, 148, 148B, 148E, 148F, 150A, or 153; a mental health professional as defined under section 245.462, subdivision 18, or 245.4871, subdivision 27; or vendor of medical care defined in section 256B.02, subdivision 7; and

(2) authorized within their respective scope of practice to provide the particular service with no supervision or under general supervision.

Subd. 7. Originating site. "Originating site" means a site including, but not limited to, a health care facility at which a patient is located at the time health care services are provided to the patient by means of telemedicine.

Subd. 8. Store-and-forward technology. "Store-and-forward technology" means the transmission of a patient's medical information from an originating site to a health care provider at a distant site without the patient being present, or the delivery of telemedicine that does not occur in real time via synchronous transmissions.

Subd. 9. Telemedicine. "Telemedicine" means the delivery of health care services or consultations while the patient is at an originating site and the licensed health care provider is at a distant site. A communication between licensed health care providers that consists solely of a telephone conversation, e-mail, or facsimile transmission does not constitute telemedicine consultations or services. A communication between a licensed health care provider and a patient that consists solely of an e-mail or facsimile transmission does not constitute telemedicine consultations or services. Telemedicine may be provided by means of real-time two-way, interactive audio and visual communications, including the application of secure video conferencing or store-and-forward technology to provide or support health care delivery, which facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, and care management of a patient's health care.

History: 2015 c 71 art 9 s 2