TRENTON – The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal that would extend pay parity for telehealth and telemedicine providers until July 1, 2026.

The bill would require that reimbursement rates for providers using telemedicine and telehealth will be equal to the same applicable services and treatments delivered through in-person contact and consultation.

The practical benefits of telemedicine were made clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling healthcare providers to continue to treat patients when actual in-person visits and services were limited and often unavailable.

“Since the days of the pandemic, the use of telehealth services has become an integral part of our health care landscape,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth). “As telemedicine only continues to become more and more popular, we must strive to make sure that its logistical structures are built out smartly and fairly and remain affordable across New Jersey.”

The bill stipulates that providers of telehealth will continue to be reimbursed equal to in-person visits, because outside of the public health emergency, the provision of health care, especially mental healthcare, through telehealth has proven highly beneficial.

The bill, S-2988, advanced in 13-0 vote.