interstate compacts Archives - Page 2 of 8

interstate compacts

Trending in Telehealth: April 30 – May 6, 2024

by Patrick Zanayed and Casey Li | May 10, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care.

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards
Reimbursement requirements

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

Iowa enacted HF 2402, which requires the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to review and update its administrative rules regarding psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), including the review of rules related to the use of telehealth services to conduct post-restraint and seclusion assessments.
Iowa enacted HF 2512, which adopts the Social Worker Licensure Compact.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In Louisiana, HB 896 passed one chamber. This bill establishes the Louisiana Remote Patient Monitoring Program Law, which allows remote patient monitoring services provided through telehealth for patients who meet certain criteria as outlined in the bill.
In Connecticut, HB 5198 passed one chamber. If enacted, this bill would make permanent certain temporary expanded requirements for telehealth services. These expanded provisions include the following: allows authorized telehealth providers to use audio-only telephone to provide services, allows authorized providers to provide telehealth services from any location to patients at any location, prohibits providers from charging uninsured patients more than the Medicare reimbursement rate for telehealth services, and prohibits health carriers from reducing the amount of reimbursement they pay to telehealth providers for covered services provided through telehealth.
In Colorado, HB 24-1045 passed the second chamber. This bill adds substance use disorder treatment to the list of healthcare services required to be reimbursed at the same rate for telemedicine as comparable in-person services.
In Colorado, SB 24-141 passed one chamber. If enacted, this bill would allow a licensed out-of-state healthcare provider to provide telehealth services to patients located in Colorado if the provider registered with the appropriate regulator in Colorado.
In Hawaii, HCR 125 passed one chamber, which requests the establishment of a telehealth working group to examine the impact of widespread telehealth adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify public policy initiatives at the federal and state level to optimize telehealth utilization as the state transitions out.
Several states saw activity related to interstate compacts.
- Michigan HB 4169 passed one chamber, which would enact the occupational therapy licensure compact.
- In South Carolina, S 610 passed two chambers, which would enact the professional counseling compact.
- In Alabama, SB 208 passed two chambers, which would enact the Social Worker Compact.
In Nevada, the Board of Dental Examiners published a proposed rule that expands requirements related to teledentistry. This rule specifies the circumstances under which a licensed provider may provide teledentistry services, including issuing prescriptions.
In Kansas, the Board of Pharmacy proposed a rule that sets forth requirements to establish a telepharmacy outlet, as well as requirements for the personnel who would staff the telepharmacy outlet. This rule [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: April 23 – April 29, 2024

by Stacey Callaghan and Jayda Greco | May 3, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards and licensure
Reimbursement requirements and payment parity

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

Oklahoma enacted HB 3330, which would require every mental health professional who is renewing a behavioral health certification or license issued by a designated board to report certain information, including their use of telehealth.
Vermont enacted H 543, which adopts the Social Worker Licensure Compact.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In Ohio, S 1074 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would amend the supervision and delegation laws for physicians and physician assistants including adding the ability for both licensee types to . Some examples included in the bill are collecting specimens (e.g., urine or stool samples), point of care testing and screening and recording information. The bill does not specify any particular non-clinical tasks that would be particularly suited for telemedicine.
In Vermont, H 861 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would provide for reimbursement parity for all medically necessary, clinically appropriate, delivered in-person, by telemedicine, and by audio-only telephone. Services covered under the bill would include services that are covered when provided in the home-by-home health agencies. The bill specifically provides that health insurance plans provide the same reimbursement rates for services billed using equivalent procedure codes and modifiers, subject to the terms of the health insurance plan and provider contract.
In Colorado, HB 24-1045 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would add substance use disorder treatment to the list of healthcare services required to be reimbursed at the same rate for telemedicine as comparable in-person services.
Numerous states progressed legislation relating to the Social Worker Compact
- In Alabama, HB 318 passed the first chamber.
- In Iowa, HB 2512 passed both chambers
- In Ohio, SB 90 passed both chambers.
- In Louisiana, HB 888 passed the first chamber.

Why it matters:

States continue to increase activity surrounding licensure compacts for a variety of health professionals. These state efforts ease the burdens of the licensing process and demonstrate a desire to facilitate multijurisdictional practice without giving up authority over professional licensure. This week, the Social Work Compact saw increased activity.
States continue to amend and clarify professional practice standards for telehealth. With the increase in the delivery of care through virtual modalities, professional boards are adopting standards governing telehealth practice across multiple health professions and revising existing standards to reflect current technologies and practices, to ensure there is consistency across the professions. This week, we saw a particular emphasis on mental health professionals as it relates to Board reporting obligations, [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: April 16 – April 22, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart and Jayda Greco | Apr 23, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards and licensure
Reimbursement requirements and payment parity

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

Nevada’s Physical Therapy Board adopted a final rule which permits physical therapists to use telehealth in accordance with the provisions of Nevada’s general telehealth law (Rev. Stat. 629.515).
Nebraska enacted legislation, LB 932, which adopts the Social Worker Licensure Compact.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In Illinois, HB 5087 passed the first chamber. The bill provides that physical therapy through telehealth services may be used to address access issues to care, enhance care delivery or increase the physical therapist’s ability to assess and direct the patient’s performance in the patient’s own environment. It also provides that a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant working under the general supervision of a physical therapist may provide physical therapy through telehealth services pursuant to the terms and use defined in the Telehealth Act and the Illinois Insurance Code under specified conditions.
In Tennessee, SB 1862 and mirroring HB 1863 passed the second chamber. The bill would adopt the Dietician Licensure Compact.
In Minnesota, SF 4399 passed the second chamber. The bill specifies that subject to federal approval, substance use disorder services that are otherwise covered by the state’s Medicaid program as direct face-to-face services may be provided via telehealth as defined in section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b. The use of telehealth to deliver services must be medically appropriate to the condition and needs of the person being served. Reimbursement shall be at the same rates and under the same conditions that would otherwise apply to direct face-to-face services.
In Ohio, proposed rules by the Chemical Dependency Professionals Board would provide guidance regarding the ethics and professional conduct of practice for certificate holders and licensees overseen by the Chemical Dependency Board, which includes chemical dependency counselor assistants, licensed chemical dependency counselors and licensed independent chemical dependency counselors, when using telehealth.

Why it matters:

States continue to amend and clarify professional practice standards for telehealth. With the increase in the delivery of care through virtual modalities, professional boards are adopting standards governing telehealth practice across multiple health professions and revising existing standards to reflect current technologies and practices to ensure there is consistency across the professions. This week, we saw a particular emphasis in practice standards impacting physical therapists and substance use disorder professionals who provide services via telehealth.
States continue to evaluate reimbursement standards as they relate to delivery of care provided via telehealth. State efforts, such as the bill in Minnesota (highlighted above), help to promote access to telehealth by giving patients a choice to seek telehealth [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: April 9 – April 15, 2024

by Dale C. Van Demark and Jayda Greco | Apr 22, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards and licensure
Reimbursement requirements and payment parity

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

Michigan enacted a final rule that outlines telehealth practice standards including consent to telehealth, referrals to in-person providers (when needed), delegation of prescribing of controlled substances to advanced practice registered nurses, training standards related to human trafficking, licensure and continuing education.
Delaware enacted a final rule related to social work practice. The amendments change the requirements for direct supervision in post-degree supervised clinical social work experience for licensure applicants to specify that supervision may be through 100% live video conferencing at the discretion of the supervisor. Telehealth requirements are revised to exempt individuals practicing through a Delaware interstate telehealth registration from the prerequisite that the individual hold a Delaware license.
Tennessee enacted SB 1674, which directs the bureau of TennCare to – no later than December 31, 2024 – amend existing rules, or promulgate new rules, on fee-for-service and Medicaid managed care plans regarding reimbursement (specifically, to allow for the reimbursement of remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal nonstress tests using established CPT codes for such procedures when the patient is in a residence or other off-site location that is separate from the patient’s provider and meets the same standard of care).

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In New Jersey, A 2803 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would authorize certain out-of-state healthcare professionals and recent graduates of healthcare training programs to practice in the state upon application for licensure/certification in the state, but before such license is granted.
In Texas, HB 1771 passed one chamber. If enacted, the bill would require that each agency with regulatory authority over a health professional providing a telemedicine medical service, teledentistry or telehealth adopt rules necessary to standardize formats for and retention of records related to a patient’s consent to: (i) treatment, (ii) data collection and (iii) data sharing.
In Minnesota, SF 4399 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would provide that, subject to federal approval, substance use disorder services that are otherwise covered as direct face-to-face services may be provided via telehealth as defined in section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b. The use of telehealth to deliver services would need to be medically appropriate to the condition and needs of the person being served. Reimbursement would be at the same rates and under the same conditions that would otherwise apply to direct face-to-face services.
In Alabama, SB 207 passed one chamber. If enacted, the bill would adopt the dietitian licensure compact. In Tennessee, HB 1863 (paired with SB 1862) also passed one chamber, and if enacted, would [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: April 2 – April 8, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart and Jayda Greco | Apr 12, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards and supervision requirements
Reimbursement requirements

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

Arizona enacted SB 1173, enacting the counseling compact.
Mississippi enacted SB 2157 (mentioned in last week’s post) adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.
Kentucky enacted both bills mentioned in last week’s blog post:
SB 255 establishes requirements and standards for the provision of social work services via telehealth.
SB 111: Requires health benefit plans, limited health service benefit plans, Medicaid and state health plans to provide coverage for speech therapy provided in person or via telehealth.
West Virginia also enacted rulemaking pertaining to the practice of licensed dietitians. Specifically, the rulemaking established procedures for the practice of telehealth by licensed dietitians. The rule provides for relevant telehealth definitions, licensure standards, establishing a practitioner-provider relationship solely via telehealth and standards of telehealth practice (e.g., consent, identify verification, standards for confidentiality, etc.).
Arizona enacted rulemaking, applicable to the Medicaid program, which requires the Arizona Department of Health Services (Department) to allow a healthcare provider who is not licensed in Arizona to provide telehealth services to a client located in Arizona if the healthcare provider registers with the Department and pays a registration fee. Providers who register with the Department must maintain a statutory agent for service of process in the state and ensure the provider’s professional liability insurance policy includes coverage for telehealth services provided to clients in Arizona, among other requirements.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

Wyoming enacted emergency rulemaking which provides that a physician or physician assistant who has established a provider-patient relationship in another state with a patient who is a resident of Wyoming may provide continued care to the patient via telehealth without a Wyoming physician or physician assistant license subject to the following:
(i) The provider-patient relationship must have been established in an in-person encounter in a state in which the physician or physician assistant is licensed;
(ii) Subsequent care may be provided to the patient via telehealth while the patient is in Wyoming if the care is a logical and expected continuation of the care provided in an in-person encounter in the state where the physician or physician assistant is licensed. If the patient is presenting with new medical conditions, or conditions that the standard of care dictates an in-person encounter is needed, patient must either return to the state in which the physician or physician assistant is licensed for care or must be referred to a Wyoming-licensed healthcare provider.
(iii) The telehealth care may continue for up to six months after the establishment of the provider-patient relationship in another state, after which an in-person encounter must take place in a jurisdiction where the physician or physician assistant is [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: March 26 – April 1, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart and Jayda Greco | Apr 2, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Reimbursement requirements
Professional standards

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

West Virginia enacted SB 522, which specifies that an emergency medical services agency may triage and transport a patient to a destination other than a hospital, dialysis center, skilled nursing facility or residence within the state or treat the patient in place if the ambulance service is coordinating the care of the patient through medical command or telehealth services. The bill also requires insurance plans to provide coverage for those services. SB 522 further requires the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services to establish related protocols by October 1, 2024.
West Virginia also enacted rulemaking pertaining to the practice of medical imaging and radiation therapy technologists. The rulemaking includes a provision stating that telehealth practice is inapplicable to the practice of a medical imaging and radiation therapy technologist.
Maine enacted LD 1965, which provides telehealth standards for optometrists, including requirements for establishing an optometrist-patient relationship via telemedicine. While the bill establishes new flexibilities to allow for telehealth and provides relevant practice standards and definitions for telehealth practice, it also includes limiting language requiring either an in-person visit or an established relationship with the patient.
- For example, an optometrist-patient relationship is established when an individual agrees to receive ocular or healthcare services from the licensee and there has been an in-person encounter between the licensee and the individual, unless the standard of care requires that an individual be seen without an in-person visit, such as in an emergent situation as reasonably determined by the licensee.
- The bill also provides a pathway for an optometrist-patient relationship in which a licensee who uses telehealth in providing care and a patient who receives telehealth services through consultation with another licensee or other healthcare provider and who has an established relationship agrees to participate in, or supervise, the patient’s care through telehealth.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

Three states – Kansas, Tennessee and Colorado – either introduced or progressed legislation relating to the Social Work Licensure Compact.
- In Kansas, SB 2484 passed both chambers.
- In Tennessee, HB 2405 also passed both chambers.
- In Colorado, SB 24-1002 passed the first chamber.
In Arizona, SB 1173 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would adopt the Counseling Compact.
In Mississippi, SB 2157 passed the second chamber. If enacted, the bill would adopt the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.
In Tennessee, JB 2587 passed the second chamber. If enacted, the bill would revise the state’s insurance code to remove from the definition of “provider-based telemedicine” the requirement that [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: March 5 – March 11, 2024

by Stacey Callaghan and Nathan Gray | Mar 12, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Expanding Telehealth

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation and Rulemaking:

In South Carolina, the governor signed H 4159, the South Carolina Telehealth and Telemedicine Modernization Act, which establishes uniform baseline standards for all professionals licensed by a licensing board in the state providing services via telehealth. The act also revises the provisions of the Medical Practice Act related to telehealth, including addressing ongoing telehealth treatment provided by an out-of-state physician not licensed in South Carolina, as well as implementing standards for licensees solely providing services via telehealth (including evaluation, recordkeeping, follow-up care and prescribing standards).

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase:

Highlights:

In Arizona, SB 1267 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would permit physical therapists to supervise physical therapy assistants through certain telehealth modalities.
In Colorado, HB 24-1048 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would specify that an in-person, physical examination of an animal is required to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and would extend that relationship to other licensed veterinarians who share the same physical premises if those other veterinarians have access to and have reviewed the patient’s records. It would also permit veterinarians, with consent of the client, to provide veterinary services—including prescribing medication—via telemedicine to clients and patients located in Colorado with an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship. The bill establishes recording-keeping, confidentiality, and privacy requirements related to the use of telehealth and empowers the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine to issue rules further regulating the use of telehealth. It also permits a license veterinarian to utilize tele-supervision of veterinary personnel if certain conditions are met.
In Hawaii, HB 2079 passed the first chamber. If enacted, this bill would, among other things, allow a practitioner who is licensed in Hawaii to prescribe schedule III and IV controlled substances, including testosterone, for the purpose of providing gender-affirming care while the practitioner is located outside the State and without conducting an in-person consultation with the patient, provided that the practitioner prescribes the controlled substances via a synchronous audio-visual telehealth interaction.
In Idaho, HB 684 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would permit telebehavioral health services to be provided on public school premises.
In Kentucky, SB 111 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would require health benefit plans, limited health service benefit plans, Medicaid, and state health plans to provide coverage for speech therapy provided via telehealth.
In Kentucky, SB 255 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would establish requirements and standards for providing social work services via telehealth.
In Mississippi, HB 177 and SB 2157 both passed the first chamber. If enacted, these bills would enter Mississippi into the Dietician Licensure Compact and the Psychology Interjurisdictional [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: February 27 – March 4, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart and Nathan Gray | Mar 7, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Expanding telehealth
Regulation of teledentistry

A CLOSER LOOK

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase:

Highlights:

In Arizona, HB 2446 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would establish licensing requirements for dietician nutritionists and nutritionists, which would allow for the delivery of dietetic and nutrition services via telehealth.
In Florida, HB 849 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would establish requirements for the delivery of veterinary telehealth services by Florida-licensed veterinarians.
In Florida, HB 855 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would, among other changes, require dental practice to designate a dentist of record with the Florida Board of Dentistry. It would also require dentists to perform an in-person examination of a patient or to obtain records of an in-person evaluation before initiating orthodontic treatment. The proposal would also require that dentists placing advertisements of dental services provided through telehealth include a disclaimer recommending an in-person examination for each of the following services: an impression or digital dental scan, denture services, placement of an appliance or other structure, and orthodontic treatment. Under the proposal, failure to comply with the evaluation requirement and failure to provide patients with contact information of each dentist who is providing dental services to a patient would be grounds for discipline.
In Georgia, HB 844 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would establish licensing requirements for dietician nutritionists and nutritionists, which would allow for the delivery of dietetic and nutrition services via telehealth.
In Georgia, HB 441 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would, among other requirements, require a dentist intending to provide care via teledentristry to notify the Georgia Board of Dentistry and to provide documentation that the dentist had established a referral relationship with a dentist capable of providing in-person dental care at a location within the state meeting certain geographic requirements. A dentist providing teledentistry would be permitted to authorize dental hygienists to perform certain dental hygiene functions, prescribe noncontrolled prescriptions and authorize the performance of digital scans and the transmission of patient records to the dentist. The proposed bill would require dentists to perform an initial in-person examination and an in-person exam at least once every 12 months to provide teledentistry services to a patient, except for patients seen in certain specified settings. It would also require dentists to obtain written authorization to a patient with information about the treating dentist and dental hygienist and obtain informed consent after providing a written statement advising the patient that teledentistry was not equivalent to an in-person clinical exam and that the dentist would not physically be present. The bill would prohibit an insurer from excluding coverage for a service [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: February 12 – February 26, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart, Dale C. Van Demark and Grayson Dimick | Mar 7, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Professional standards

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

South Dakota enacted the Counseling Compact, making it the 33rd state to ratify the compact.
South Dakota also adopted HB 1029, which specifies that licensed hearing aid dispensers and audiologists can deliver services via telehealth provided they are of the same quality as services delivered face-to-face.
In Texas, the Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted rules that reorganize and revise telehealth standards for behavioral analysts. The changes include better aligning the telehealth practice standards with those for other professions regulated by the Department of Licensing and Regulation. Similarly, the Commission of Licensing and Regulation adopted a rule addressing supervision for behavioral analysts, which includes provisions addressing supervision via telehealth.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In Arizona, SB 1036 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would enact the Social Work Licensure Compact.
In Florida, SB 7016 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would enter Florida into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact.
In Louisiana, the Behavior Analyst Board proposed rules governing behavioral analyst practice, including establishing telehealth practice standards.
In Oklahoma, the Board of Examiners in Optometry proposed rule 505:10-5-19 that would address telemedicine practice by optometrists and, among other things, prohibit an optometrist from prescribing contact lenses or spectacles via a telemedicine encounter. The rule would also establish requirements for informed consent and practice requirements associated with a telemedicine visit.
In Tennessee, SB 2134 and HB 2405 each passed one chamber. If enacted, the bills would enact the Social Work Licensure Compact.
In Utah, SB 24 passed both chambers. If enacted, the bill would require Medicaid reimbursement for telepsychiatric consultations between a physician assistant and a psychiatrist. The law currently requires reimbursement only for telepsychiatric consultations between a physician and a psychiatrist.
In Virginia, HB 326 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would enter Virginia into the Counseling Compact.
In West Virginia, HB 4110 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would authorize the state’s Board of Licensed Dietitians to promulgate a legislative rule relating to telehealth practice, requirements and definitions.
In Wisconsin, SB 158 passed both chambers and awaits the governor’s signature. If enacted, the bill would enact the Social Work Licensure Compact.

Why it matters:

States continue to increase activity surrounding licensure compacts for a variety of health professionals. These state efforts ease the burdens of the licensing process and demonstrate a desire to facilitate multijurisdictional practice without giving up [...]

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Trending in Telehealth: February 5 – 12, 2024

by Amanda Enyeart and Grayson Dimick | Feb 15, 2024 | Telehealth

Trending in the past week:

Interstate compacts
Facilitation of connectivity and data exchange
Professional standards

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking

South Dakota enacted the Social Work Licensure Compact, becoming the second state to enact the compact. Missouri enacted the compact in July 2023. The compact will become active once enacted by seven states. According to the National Center for Interstate Compacts, 24 other states have introduced the compact.

Legislation & Rulemaking Activity in Proposal Phase

Highlights:

In Idaho, HB 393 passed the first chamber. If enacted, it would enter Idaho into the Counseling Compact.
In Indiana, SB 132 passed the first chamber. Currently, Indiana law provides that an out-of-state provider licensed in Indiana may not provide telehealth services in Indiana until the provider and their employer/contractor have filed a certification with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency that the provider and employer/contractor agree to be subject to Indiana jurisdiction and Indiana substantive and procedural laws. If enacted, the bill would remove the requirement to file the certification, though providers would still be subject to Indiana jurisdiction and Indiana substantive and procedural laws, and the provision of health services (rather than the filing of the certification) would constitute a voluntary waiver of other jurisdictional rights.
In West Virginia, HB 5310 passed the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would enact the Remote Patient Outcome Improvement Act to authorize insurers and providers to partner with internet service providers to facilitate the transmission and analysis of vital signs and medical device data.
In Wisconsin, the Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling and Social Worker Examining Board proposed a rule that would update telehealth practice standards by defining telehealth, creating of a new subsection that establishes standards of telehealth practice, amending the definitions of “face-to-face” and “supervision” to include telehealth practice, and amending of unprofessional conduct provisions to incorporate telehealth practice.

Why it matters:

States continue to increase activity surrounding licensure compacts for a variety of health professionals. These state efforts ease the burdens of the licensing process and demonstrate a desire to facilitate multijurisdictional practice without giving up authority over professional licensure.
Measures emphasizing connectivity and infrastructure complement the increasing availability of reimbursement for remote monitoring and other virtual care modalities. States propose measures such as West Virginia’s Remote Patient Outcome Improvement Act with the expectation that they will help reduce costs of avoidable emergency room and other medical visits when paired with remote monitoring programs.
States continue to amend and clarify professional practice standards for telehealth. With the increase in the delivery of care through virtual modalities, professional boards are adopting standards governing telehealth practice across multiple health professions and revising [...]

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