HealthAffairs Scholar: Association of Licensure and Relationship Requirement Waivers for With Out-of-State Telemental Health Care

HealthAffairs Scholar: Association of Licensure and Relationship Requirement Waivers for With Out-of-State Telemental Health Care

During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states waived in-state licensure and pre-existing patient–physician relationship requirements to increase access to care. This study examined commercially insured individuals in 3 metropolitan statistical areas straddling Illinois and found increased out-of-state telehealth utilization as a share of out-of-state mental health care. The findings indicate waivers primarily enhanced access to care of established patients by enabling the transition of in-person out-of-state health care online. Interstate medical licensure compact participation may provide broader access to out-of-state tele-mental health care than emergency waivers.