(a) A health care insurer that offers, issues for delivery, or renews in the state a health care insurance plan in the group or individual market shall provide coverage for benefits provided through telehealth by a health care provider licensed in this state and may not require that prior in-person contact occur between a health care provider and a patient before payment is made for covered services.
(b) In this section,
(1) “health care insurer” means a person transacting the business of health care insurance, including an insurance company licensed under AS 21.09, a hospital or medical service corporation licensed under AS 21.87, a fraternal benefit society licensed under AS 21.84, a health maintenance organization licensed under AS 21.86, the Comprehensive Health Insurance Association described in AS 21.55.010, a multiple employer welfare arrangement, a church plan, and a governmental plan, except for a nonfederal governmental plan that elects to be excluded under 42 U.S.C. 300gg-21(a)(2) (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996);
(2) “telehealth” has the meaning given in AS 47.05.270(e).