KNSI Radio reports…

Minnesota lawmakers opened discussions on a proposal to extend the expiration of a change that allows insurance providers to cover telemedicine services.

Representative Tina Liebling of Rochester is the chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Division. She says telemedicine will be a significant issue during the 2021 legislative session. With a lot of work still to be done, she said, extending the sunset date for coverage will give lawmakers the time needed to find more permanent solutions.

The St. Cloud VA Medical Center says the use in telemedicine exploded due to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year with them seeing an over 1000% increase in telehealth visits.

Liebling hopes the proposal can become a bill when the legislature goes back into session Monday.