Foley partner Rachel Goodman is speaking in the Kentucky Rural Telehealth Summit in a session titled “Billing/Coding/Legal & Regulatory Update” on September 26.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) brought about a seismic shift in telehealth policy. As patients stayed away from healthcare facilities to avoid COVID-19 exposure, legal, regulatory, and payer agencies acted swiftly, temporarily easing telehealth restrictions. This unprecedented flexibility allowed health care providers to rapidly scale telehealth services, ensuring patients could maintain crucial connections with their providers from the safety of their homes. Now that the PHE has ended, the future of these policies is in flux. Some of the temporary flexibilities expired with the PHE in May 2023, a portion of which has been solidified into permanent policies, while others remain in a state of limbo. 208 A-F
The discussion will look at policy trends at both the federal and state levels, with a focus on policies set to expire at the end of this year. With the looming election season adding to the uncertainty, the fate of these policies hangs in the balance. Will Congress act before year-end to secure permanent changes, or will the expiration dates be extended, leaving the future of telehealth to the next administration? This engaging conversation will explore these critical questions and more.
