Pet insurance, telehealth proposal approved

Senators passed a bill April 18 that creates a state regulatory framework for the sale of pet insurance and requires parity in insurance reimbursement rates for telehealth providers.

LB296, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard, requires pet insurers to provide disclosures regarding waiting periods, claim schedules and exclusions for preexisting conditions. It also requires training for agents who sell pet insurance.

The measure also includes provisions that require insurance reimbursement rates for a telehealth service to be at least as much as a comparable in-person health care service if the licensed provider also provides in-person health care services at a physical location in Nebraska, or is employed by or holds medical staff privileges at a licensed facility in Nebraska that provides in-person health care services in the state.

Finally, the bill requires an off-campus hospital location to obtain and use a National Provider Identifier for reimbursement claims that is distinct from the NPI used by the main hospital campus.

LB296 passed on a vote of 46-0.