Hernandez Works to Expand Telehealth Coverage

AURORA, Ill. – Working to ensure adequate health care coverage for Illinois residents during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, state Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, helped pass several measures that will increase access to telehealth services for Illinoisans.

“We know that access to telehealth services are more important now than ever before,” said Hernandez. “During the pandemic we were able to pass critical legislation that expanded telehealth services to Illinois residents, and this past legislative session, I am proud to say we passed a measure that will continue that expansion past the pandemic, allowing more Illinois residents to receive the medical attention they need in whichever way they and their doctor determine to be most appropriate.”

Hernandez backed House Bill 3308, which requires individual and group accident or health insurance providers to cover telehealth services in the same manner as any other benefits covered on their policy. It further removes previous geographical barriers to telehealth delivery, sets limits on patient cost-sharing and creates the Telehealth Payment Parity Task Force to review and study the use of telehealth services in Illinois with respect to payment and reimbursement parity for health care providers providing such services. Hernandez also supported Senate Bill 332, which aims to increase awareness to telehealth services available by requiring health insurance companies to include information on telehealth providers and services in their provider directory. 

“I have made it my priority as a state Representative to fight for more affordable and more accessible mental and physical health care services, and expanding telehealth services is a critical step in achieving that,” said Hernandez. “As our families need affordable health care more than ever, I will continue to advocate for the health and well-being of our residents, and support measures that expand telehealth and mental health care resources, reduce and cap skyrocketing prescription drug costs and promote regular preventative cancer screenings.”

For more information, please contact Hernandez’s constituent services office at 630-270-1848 or at RepBarbaraHernandez@gmail.com.