4 Facts About the State of Telehealth

The rules and regulations in telehealth you need to know.

As telehealth grows in popularity, states are trying to decide how much to define or regulate the practice.This has created a sense of confusion, as one state may allow non-synchronous communication between a nurse practitioner and patient, while another may only physicians to communicate synchronously with a patient.To help clear up the confusion, the American Telemedicine Association has released their report “2019 State of the States Report: Coverage and Reimbursement,” detailing the laws in each state, along with what is or isn’t allowed.Here are a few of the key highlights from that report:

Where technology is allowed

  • 16 states limit telehealth technology to be synchronous

  • 22 states cover remote patient monitoring

  • 29 states cover store and forward transfer

Who is allowed to practice in each state?

One state, Alabama, only allows physicians to practice. Many, however, have no parameters.

The 8 most common providers in telehealth are:

  • Physician

  • Physician assistant

  • Nurse practitioner

  • Licensed mental

  • health professional

  • Occupational therapist

  • Physical therapist

  • Psychologist

  • Dentist

Medicaid coverage

Most states will treat telehealth the same as in-person visits for Medicaid coverage and reimbursement. A total of 21 states have coverage parity policies, while 28 have reimbursement parity policies. Nineteen states have no parity policy.

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