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Experts: AB 744's payment parity helped providers invest in telehealth
Summary
Experts and clinicians told the committee that AB 744's private‑payer payment parity made telehealth financially viable for many providers, enabling schedule blocks and staffing changes that supported virtual care — though smaller safety‑net clinics still face upfront infrastructure costs.
Amy Durbin of the Center for Connected Health Policy explained that payment parity laws like AB 744 require insurers to reimburse the same service delivered by telehealth and in person at comparable rates, and that parity "ensures that the exact same service can be provided both via telehealth and in person, it should be reimbursed at the same rate." That clarity, Durbin said, supports provider investment in scheduling, billing staff, and technology.
Family practitioner Dr. Stefan Newman told the committee parity "was very important because it allowed North Bay Health Care to invest in the time, for staff, billing people, coding people, and for providers to be able to block, their schedules and have these slots open, for patients." Witnesses emphasized smaller clinics and safety‑net providers may still need upfront funding or technical assistance to adopt telehealth workflows.
