Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care.

Trending in the past week:

• Medical marijuana

A CLOSER LOOK

Finalized Legislation & Rulemaking:

• In New York, the governor signed an act (A 8168) requiring Medicaid to provide remote ultrasound and remote fetal nonstress tests in certain circumstances.
• In Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission finalized amendments that permit patients to request a telehealth appointment for a patient’s initial visit to a provider. An initial visit conducted via telehealth must be synchronous and face-to-face. The adopted changes also permit certified providers to be out-of-state so long as the conditions for certification are met.

Why it matters:

• Regulators continue to recognize telehealth as an effective care delivery method in new settings. Massachusetts’ decision to permit the use of telehealth to conduct a patient’s initial visit to a provider for a certificate of registration for medical marijuana and New York Medicaid coverage of remote ultrasounds and fetal nonstress tests reflects growing recognition by regulators that telehealth can be an effective care delivery method for a wide range of procedures and patients.

Telehealth is an important development in care delivery, but the regulatory patchwork is complicated.