Close up of a senior woman consulting with her doctor online on her laptop

Many states are already scaling back access to telehealth services, even though the nation’s COVID-19 public health emergency continues. 

According to a report by NBC News, a number of states have been letting their own PHE orders lapse in recent months and quietly scaling back access to virtual medical appointments, forcing some patients to drive several miles to receive in-person care.

Brian Hasselfeld, M.D.,Johns Hopkins medical director for digital health and telemedicine, said licensing requirements are the primary reason providers are being forced to curtail telehealth visits.

“Most states now are back to the pre-pandemic licensure rules, where you must be licensed in our state if you’re going to see patients in our state,” Hasselfeld told NBC. 

A year ago, 26 states had waivers in place that allowed residents to have virtual visits with doctors who were based in other states, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards, which represents the licensing boards in U.S. states and territories. That number has now dropped to 12. 

The end of telehealth flexibility could present challenges for firms that have invested heavily in virtual care. Companies as diverse as CVS Health and LG Electronics have poured millions of dollars into technology and services that bring virtual care into the home.

Legislation pending before Congress would help preserve telehealth flexibilities beyond the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Connecting Rural Telehealth to the Future Act would extend virtual visits until the end of 2024 and would allow audio only telehealth visits permanently to rural residents when providers are managing patient health or providing behavioral health services. The Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act of 2021 provides similar flexibilities.