Telehealth Experiences Uncertainty as Cross-State Care Wavers End

The slew of emergency orders allowing cross-state healthcare during the pandemic have begun to expire, cutting telecare for millions of patients. Many patients relied on the technology because of in-person clinic closures during the initial waves of the pandemic, but greater adoption of telehealth helped many patients with limited access to transportation or specialists in other states. Recent solutions put forward by patient advocates, providers, and public health officials have met with internal friction.

According to Ben Leonard of Politico, “More than 30 states and Washington, D.C., have signed on to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, favored by the powerful American Medical Association and the Federation of State Medical Boards. The compact serves as a common application so providers can seamlessly apply for licensure in multiple states. But it doesn’t go as far as some in the telehealth industry would like. Unlike the industry proposals, the compact doesn’t allow for reciprocity, meaning if a doctor is licensed in one state, other states could recognize the license.”

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(Source: Politico Future Pulse, April 20^th, 2022)