Texas Department of Insurance Provides Evolving Industry Guidance in Response to Coronavirus

In response to the outbreak of Covid-19, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has issued almost daily updates for insurance companies, agents, and other regulated parties.  Some of the steps TDI has taken which are of interest to the industry include the following:

• Adopted emergency rules concerning telemedicine and telehealth services which are codified in 28 Texas Administrative Code section 35.1
• Encouraged waiving of consumer costs for medically necessary Coronavirus testing and posted a list of health insurers and HMOs representing 95% of the state-regulated market in Texas which have done so.
• Encouraged electronic filings to facilitate services while TDI staff are telecommuting.
• Transitioned a stakeholder meeting on data reporting to a webinar and postponed a meeting on state innovation waivers.
• Cancelled the agency’s Compliance Conference originally scheduled in Austin on April 9, 2020.
• Alerted stakeholders of anticipated challenges with agent licensing due to closure of third-party testing centers and fingerprinting locations.

A list of TDI’s recent actions and announcements concerning the Coronavirus can be found here.

Visit our COVID-19 Resource Center often for up-to-date information to help you stay informed of the legal issues related to COVID-19.

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