Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding the establishment of a provider-patient relationship using telehealth technologies.

This legislation amends the Idaho Telehealth Act to allow and enable innovation in healthcare technology and offer greater access to affordable, quality care for Idahoans. It removes the requirement for narrowly defined technology during a first telehealth encounter between a provider and patient. This amendment will provide accountability to the Community Standard of Care for all technology used in telehealth, while at the same time maximizes patient choice and empowers the Idaho licensed provider to use professional discretion in providing care via telehealth. Currently, Idaho Code mandates a "two-way audio or audio-visual interaction" to establish a valid provider-patient relationship for all telehealth encounters. A healthcare provider licensed in Idaho should be able to establish a provider-patient relationship with any available technology that is sufficient to evaluate or diagnose and appropriate to treat an Idaho patient for the condition as presented to the provider that can meet the community standard of care. Idaho licensed providers are held accountable to the community standard of care through the relevant regulatory board.