LUGPA Policy Brief: State Telehealth Policy Reform (MI SB 772 & IL HB 4331)

July 2026

At‑a‑Glance Essentials

What’s Changing: States continue advancing legislation to modernize telehealth reimbursement and billing standards. Michigan SB 772, currently in the Michigan Senate, modifies reimbursement requirements for telehealth visits under commercial insurance, amending Section 3476 of the Insurance Code (MCL 500.3476). Illinois HB 4331, introduced earlier this session, proposed new consumer telehealth billing protection to ensure patients receive clear, consistent, and transparent billing for virtual care. HB 4331 ultimately did not advance this session, leaving consumer billing protections an unresolved policy priority for future legislative consideration.

Why It Matters: Telehealth is now a core component of modern urologic and cancer care. Standardized reimbursement and billing rules ensure patients can access virtual visits without financial uncertainty, while supporting sustainable telehealth delivery in independent specialty practices.

Summary

Telehealth legislation seeks to expand access, improve billing transparency, and ensure reimbursement policies align with clinically appropriate virtual care. Michigan SB 772 focuses on reimbursement parity and clarity, whileIllinois HB 4331 would have addressed consumer billing protections to prevent unexpected charges and ensure consistent payer practices.

For urology, telehealth supports follow‑up care, chronic disease management, post‑procedure monitoring, and treatment planning. Clear reimbursement and billing rules are essential for maintaining continuity of care and supporting patient engagement across diverse communities.

Most state telehealth bills aim to:

• Ensure fair reimbursement for clinically appropriate virtual visits
• Improve billing transparency to protect patients from unexpected charges
• Expand access to virtual care across rural and underserved areas
• Support value‑based care by enabling efficient, patient‑centered follow‑up

Relevance to Independent Urology Practices

Telehealth policy reform directly affects LUGPA practices by:

• Improving patient access to convenient, timely virtual care
• Ensuring reimbursement stability for follow‑up visits and chronic‑care management
• Reducing billing confusion through clearer consumer protections
• Enhancing care continuity for cancer and chronic‑care patients

LUGPA supports telehealth legislation that is evidence‑based, technology‑neutral, and flexible enough to adapt to evolving care models and digital innovation.

Conclusion

Telehealth legislation strengthens access to virtual care and supports high‑quality urologic treatment in independent practices. Michigan SB 772 represents meaningful progress toward reimbursement clarity. Illinois HB 4331, while not advancing this session, underscores the need for continued work on consumer billing protections to ensure patients receive transparent, predictable telehealth charges.

LUGPA advocates for balanced policies that ensure fair reimbursement, protect consumers through transparent billing, preserve clinical decision‑making, and support sustainable telehealth delivery across diverse communities.