4 Ways States Can Advance Telehealth Policy to Support Care Access

A policy brief created by the Reason Foundation, Cicero Institute, and Pioneer Institute described four areas where all 50 states had room for improvement in advancing telehealth policy to expand access to high-quality care.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions on in-person care led to a sharp uptake of telehealth services among patients and providers. This was also made possible due to the policy and regulatory changes that took place at the federal and state levels.

Although most of these pandemic-related actions were initially intended to be temporary, certain states made efforts to change laws permanently.

However, the report noted several missed opportunities for states to ensure that laws support telehealth innovation and lower the chances of patients losing necessary access to care.

The report provided details regarding four areas of policy improvements that will allow states to support telehealth innovation and provide patients with access to high-level care.

The first area relates to patients having the ability to access all forms of telehealth. Specifically, the report suggested that laws and regulations should define telehealth broadly without placing favoritism on any particular mode of virtual care, thus maintaining modality neutrality.

Secondly, patients should be able to commence telehealth relationships regardless of modality. The report stated that state laws should not forbid patients from beginning relationships with providers through their preferred channel.

Thirdly, the report noted that patients shouldn’t have to battle state-line restrictions when obtaining telehealth. States should allow patients to participate in telehealth services offered by providers licensed in other states.

Finally, patients should have the ability to see various types of providers through telehealth, according to the report. State laws should enable providers to practice at the top of a license to ensure high-quality healthcare access.

"States must continue to refocus their efforts to ensure clear laws and guidelines are in place for innovation to emerge so that patients and providers can benefit from this helpful tool in any care delivery toolbox," the report stated. 

Similarly, various reports have detailed the need for continued and expanded access to telehealth.

In April 2022, a report from the Center for Connected Medicine (CCM) and KLAS described that continuing access to telehealth is key to maintaining optimal healthcare access.

A CCM-conducted survey found that only 30 percent of the patient volume was virtual and that this number was expected to decrease. However, the report noted that many health systems believe that allowing telehealth to remain an option is essential. The report concluded that telehealth provides numerous benefits, including helping providers rein in healthcare costs.

Policymakers at the federal level are also looking to solidify expanded access to telehealth. In February, a group of US House representatives announced the introduction of the Telehealth Benefit Expansion for Workers Act. The bill aims to provide American workers with access to employer-sponsored telehealth benefits.

The House representatives introduced this bipartisan bill to allow employers to offer workers standalone telehealth benefits. These benefits would operate similarly to dental and vision benefits, remaining separate from traditional healthcare plans.