Int. No. 675-A

By Council Members Hudson, Louis, Restler, Hanif, Brewer, Sanchez, Velázquez, Barron, Stevens, Avilés, Won, Krishnan, Gutiérrez, Narcisse, De La Rosa, Abreu, Ossé, Cabán, Nurse, Joseph, Bottcher, Lee, Brooks-Powers, Ung, Brannan, Riley, Williams, Powers, Farías, Schulman, Salamanca, Ayala, Dinowitz and Gennaro (by request of the Manhattan Borough President)

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the creation of a telemedicine accessibility plan

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1. Section 17-2001 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding new definitions of “portable monitoring device,” “telehealth device,” and “telepatient population” in alphabetical order to read as follows:

Portable monitoring device. The term “portable monitoring device” means a portable electronic device that measures patient vital signs, including, but not limited to, a blood pressure monitor or glucometer.

Telehealth device. The term “telehealth device” means a portable electronic device, capable of audio and visual telecommunication between a patient and a health care professional, including, but not limited to, a tablet device, laptop, or similar wireless or cellular communication device.

Telepatient population. The term “telepatient population” means persons who may benefit from telemedicine services, or for whom regular in-person access to healthcare professionals is not reasonably feasible, including, but not limited to, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and incarcerated persons.

§ 2. Chapter 20 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-2003 to read as follows:

§ 17-2003 Telemedicine accessibility plan. a. The department shall develop a telemedicine accessibility plan to improve the availability and accessibility of telemedicine services for the telepatient population. Such plan shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:

1. Procedures for providing or making available portable monitoring devices to telepatient populations;

2. Procedures for providing or making available telehealth devices to telepatient populations;

3. Outreach to telepatient populations to provide information on telemedicine services;

4. Outreach to health care professionals to improve the availability and accessibility of telemedicine services and implement best practices for providing such services; and

5. The provision of language translation and interpretation services for telepatient populations that require such services to safely and properly use portable monitoring devices and telehealth devices.

b. No later than 1 year after the effective date of the local law that added this section, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the mayor and the speaker of the council a report on the telemedicine plan required by this section, including the number and type of portable monitoring devices and telehealth devices it has provided or made available, and the locations where such devices were provided or made available.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.

Session 12

XC/CP

LS #5352

4/3/23 5:01PM