N.Y. Insurance Law Section 3217-H
Telehealth delivery of services

* (a) (1) An insurer shall not exclude from coverage a service that is otherwise covered under a policy that provides comprehensive coverage for hospital, medical or surgical care because the service is delivered via telehealth, as that term is defined in subsection (b) of this section; provided, however, that an insurer may exclude from coverage a service by a health care provider where the provider is not otherwise covered under the policy. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to co-payments, coinsurance or deductibles provided that they are at least as favorable to the insured as those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to reasonable utilization management and quality assurance requirements that are consistent with those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth.

(2)

An insurer that provides comprehensive coverage for hospital, medical or surgical care shall reimburse covered services delivered by means of telehealth on the same basis, at the same rate, and to the same extent that such services are reimbursed when delivered in person; provided that reimbursement of covered services delivered via telehealth shall not require reimbursement of costs not actually incurred in the provision of the telehealth services, including charges related to the use of a clinic or other facility when neither the originating site nor distant site occur within the clinic or other facility.

(3)

An insurer that provides comprehensive coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical care with a network of health care providers shall ensure that such network is adequate to meet the telehealth needs of insured individuals for services covered under the policy when medically appropriate. * NB Effective until April 1, 2026 * (a) An insurer shall not exclude from coverage a service that is otherwise covered under a policy that provides comprehensive coverage for hospital, medical or surgical care because the service is delivered via telehealth, as that term is defined in subsection (b) of this section; provided, however, that an insurer may exclude from coverage a service by a health care provider where the provider is not otherwise covered under the policy. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to co-payments, coinsurance or deductibles provided that they are at least as favorable to the insured as those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth. An insurer may subject the coverage of a service delivered via telehealth to reasonable utilization management and quality assurance requirements that are consistent with those established for the same service when not delivered via telehealth. * NB Effective April 1, 2026 (b) For purposes of this section, “telehealth” means the use of electronic information and communication technologies by a health care provider to deliver health care services to an insured individual while such individual is located at a site that is different from the site where the health care provider is located.

Source: Section 3217-H — Telehealth delivery of services, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/ISC/3217-H (updated May 3, 2024; accessed May 24, 2025).

3201
Approval of life, accident and health, credit unemployment, and annuity policy forms 3202
Withdrawal of approval of policy forms 3203
Individual life insurance policies 3204
Policy to contain entire contract 3205
Insurable interest in the person 3206
Policies which provide for an adjustable maximum rate of interest on policy loans 3207
Life insurance contracts by or for the benefit of minors 3208
Antedating of life insurance policies and burial agreements prohibited 3209
Life insurance, annuities and funding agreements disclosure requirements 3210
Incontestability after reinstatement 3211
Notice of premium due under life or disability insurance policy 3212
Exemption of proceeds and avails of certain insurance and annuity contracts 3213
Payment of proceeds 3214
Interest upon proceeds of life insurance policies and annuity contracts 3215
Disability benefits in connection with life insurance and annuities 3216
Individual accident and health insurance policy provisions 3217
Minimum standards in the form, content and sale of accident and health insurance 3217–A
Disclosure of information 3217–B
Prohibitions 3217–C
Primary and preventive obstetric and gynecologic care 3217–D
Grievance procedure and access to specialty care 3217–E
Choice of health care provider 3217–F
Prohibition on lifetime and annual limits 3217–G
Maternal depression screenings 3217–H
Telehealth delivery of services 3217–I
Essential health benefits package and limit on cost-sharing 3217–J
Utilization review determinations for medically fragile children 3218
Medicare supplemental insurance policies 3219
Annuity and pure endowment contracts and certain group annuity certificates 3220
Group life insurance policies 3221
Group or blanket accident and health insurance policies 3222
Funding agreements 3223
Group annuity contracts 3224
Standard claim forms 3224–A
Standards for prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims for health care and payments for health care services 3224–B
Rules relating to the processing of health claims and overpayments to physicians 3224–C
Coordination of benefits 3224–D
Prescription synchronization 3225
Eligibility for health insurance in cases of exposure to DES 3226
Reinsurance contracts excepted 3227
Interest upon surrenders, policy loans and other funds 3228
Individual accident and health insurance policies 3229
Minimum benefit standards for certain long term care plans 3230
Accelerated payment of the death benefit or special surrender value under a life insurance policy 3231
Rating of individual and small group health insurance policies 3231*2
Health insurance policies and subscriber contracts 3232
Pre-existing condition provisions in health policies 3232–A
Certification of creditable coverage 3233
Stabilization of health insurance markets and premium rates 3234
Pre-existing condition provisions in group and blanket disability policies 3234*2
Limitations on administrative services and stop-loss coverage 3235
Explanation of benefits forms relating to claims under medicare supplemental insurance policies and limited benefits health insurance pol... 3236
Public health law assessments 3237
Health insurance coverage for full-time students on medical leaves of absence 3238
Pre-authorization of health care services 3239
Wellness programs 3240
Unclaimed benefits 3240*2
Student accident and health insurance 3241
Network coverage 3242
Prescription drug coverage 3243
Discrimination because of sex or marital status in hospital, surgical or medical expense insurance 3244
Explanation of benefits forms relating to claims under certain accident and health insurance policies 3245
Liability to providers in the event of an insolvency
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Accessed:
May 24, 2025

Last modified:
May 3, 2024

§ 3217-H’s source at nysenate​.gov

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