Telehealth Policy Webinar Series: Crossing State Lines

In the fall of 2022, the PHI’s Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) held two webinars in its popular state telehealth policy series that focused on what the telehealth policy landscape may look like in a post-public health emergency environment. Rather than focus on individual states’ policies as examples, the two webinars explored issues that have more of a regional or national impact.

VIEW & DOWNLOAD THE WEBINAR SERIES SUMMARY REPORT

Webinar #1: Crossing State Lines – October 21, 2022

Speakers for the Crossing State Lines webinar focused on the myriad of policy considerations providers would need to consider when treating patients in another state. The expert panel included:

• Kimberly Horvath, JD, Senior Attorney, American Medical Association
• Jeremy Sherer, Esq, Partner, Digital Health Co-Chair, Hooper, Lundy, & Bookman, PC
• Kathy Wibberly, PhD, Director, Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center

Such issues like licensure are commonly known, but speakers also delved into issues around reimbursement, prescribing, malpractice insurance and consent. Due to the differences among states, providers will need to be aware that policies that are familiar within their own state are not necessarily replicated in other jurisdictions.

Webinar #2: Federal Policy & Telehealth: What to be Aware of Going Forward – October 28, 2022

For the second webinar, panelists focused on what could be expected in a post public health emergency (PHE) environment. (Please note that since the webinar took place, some changes to federal policy have occurred. Check CCHP’s website for more information). Additionally, panelists also focused on issues that policymakers have also been examining recently including concerns over waste, fraud and abuse as well as situations or conditions where telehealth can be utilized appropriately and where it cannot.

John W. Gordon, Office of Evaluation and Inspections from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) spoke about several reports recently published by the agency who has, among other items, been examining the waste, fraud and abuse issues. Carly L. Paterson, PhD, MPH, RN, Associate Director, Healthcare Delivery and Disparities Research Program, from Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) discussed some of the research that organization has been involved in. Overall, all panelist noted that there is still much to be examined and that it is highly likely future changes in policy will impact the direction on some of this additional research as well as how providers continue to use telehealth.