PILOT PROGRAM FOR MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT FOR INTERNET MEDICAL CONSULTATION

(a) The executive commissioner may develop and implement a pilot program in one or more sites the executive commissioner chooses under which Medicaid reimbursements are paid for medical consultations provided by physicians or other health care professionals using the Internet. The pilot program must be designed to test whether an Internet medical consultation is a cost-effective alternative to an in-person consultation under Medicaid. (b) The executive commissioner may modify the pilot program as necessary throughout the program's implementation to maximize the potential cost-effectiveness of Internet medical consultations. (c) If the executive commissioner determines from the pilot program that Internet medical consultations are cost-effective, the executive commissioner may expand the pilot program to additional sites or implement Medicaid reimbursements for Internet medical consultations statewide. (d) The executive commissioner is not required to implement the pilot program authorized under Subsection (a) as a prerequisite to providing Medicaid reimbursement authorized by Section 548.0302 on a statewide basis.