Telehealth trends focus on state legal and regulatory developments impacting health care providers, telemedicine and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that provide and facilitate virtual care.
Trends over the past week:
- interstate highway compact
- Facilitate connectivity and data exchange
- professional standards
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Enactment of final laws and regulations
- south dakota It enacted a social work licensing agreement, becoming the second state to enact this agreement. Missouri enacted this agreement in her July 2023. The agreement will become effective once it is enacted by her seven states. Twenty-four other states have adopted the compact, according to the National Center for Interstate Compacts.
Proposal-level legislation and rulemaking activities
highlight:
- in idaho HB 393 passed the first chamber. If enacted, this bill would bring the state of Idaho into the counseling compact.
- in Indiana, SB 132 passed the first chamber. Currently, under Indiana law, an out-of-state provider licensed in Indiana cannot provide telehealth services in Indiana until the provider and its employer/contractor submit certification to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. It is stipulated that it must not be provided. Subject to the jurisdiction of the State of Indiana and the substantive and procedural laws of the State of Indiana. If enacted, this bill would remove the requirement to submit certification, but providers would still be subject to Indiana jurisdiction and Indiana's substantive and procedural laws (as opposed to filing certification). ) The provision of medical services is a voluntary exemption. Other Jurisdiction Rights.
- in west virginia, HB 5310 passed through the first chamber. If enacted, the bill would create the Improving Remote Patient Outcomes Act, which would 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 Examination Board creates a new subsection that defines telehealth, establishes standards for the practice of telehealth, revise the definition of “in-person,” and establishes standards for the practice of telehealth. Proposed rules to update standards. “Supervision” to include the practice of telemedicine, and amendments to the provisions of unprofessional conduct to include the practice of telemedicine.
Why it's important:
- States continue to increase activity around licensing agreements for various medical professionals. These states' efforts demonstrate a desire to reduce the burden of the licensing process and encourage practice in multiple jurisdictions without relinquishing authority over professional licensure.
- Measures focused on connectivity and infrastructure will increase the availability of reimbursement for remote monitoring and other virtual care measures. States are proposing measures like West Virginia's Remote Patient Outcomes Improvement Act in hopes that, when combined with remote monitoring programs, they will help reduce the cost of avoidable emergency room and other medical visits. There is.
- States continue to amend and clarify their standards of professional practice regarding telehealth. With the increase in the delivery of care through virtual modalities, professional boards are adopting standards governing the practice of telehealth across multiple health care professions and revising existing standards to reflect current technology and practices. I am.
