States’ Actions to Expand Telemedicine Access During COVID-19 and Future Policy Considerations

Abstract

• Issue: To encourage greater use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, states took action to enhance private insurance coverage of telemedicine. As temporary orders and voluntary insurer efforts end, policymakers are considering how best to regulate telemedicine post-pandemic.
• Goal: To better understand the changing regulatory approach to telemedicine in response to COVID-19.
• Methods: A review of state actions to expand individual and group health insurance coverage of telemedicine between March 2020 and March 15, 2021, and a scan of statutes existing prior to March 2020 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Structured interviews with insurance regulators in 10 states that increased access to telemedicine during the pandemic.
• Key Findings and Conclusion: Twenty-two states changed laws or policies during the pandemic to require more robust insurance coverage of telemedicine. States focused on three key areas: requiring coverage of audio-only services, waiving cost sharing or requiring cost sharing no higher than identical in-person services, and requiring reimbursement parity between telemedicine and in-person services. Data on how longer-term expansion of telemedicine affects access, cost, and quality of care may help shape future policies.

Findings

States Moved Quickly to Enhance Telemedicine Coverage

Twenty-two states changed laws or policies during the pandemic to require more robust insurance coverage of telemedicine. They used legislation, executive orders, and other agency actions, such as bulletins, notices, and executive orders from the department of insurance or a similar agency (Appendix B).

Most of these states pursued changes via administrative action. Use of executive authority allowed states to move relatively quickly during the crisis, though it has meant that the new telemedicine coverage requirements are temporary. For example, seven governors included specific telemedicine coverage requirements in executive orders, which are binding during the public health emergency but expire thereafter.

Some states used bulletins, notices, or executive orders from the department of insurance or a similar agency to enhance coverage. Administrative action also moved through various other vehicles (such as bulletins, notices, and executive orders from the department of insurance or similar agency) in states where sufficient statutory authority already existed or where an executive order created new authority without detailing specific requirements.

Eight states passed new legislation. Although the legislative process takes more time, it is necessary for permanent changes.¹¹

States Chose Key Policy Changes to Expand Telemedicine Coverage

Five states that did not previously require coverage of telemedicine services changed their policies during the pandemic, bringing the total number of states that currently require coverage to 40 (Exhibit 1). In addition to securing this broad coverage obligation, states took other steps to enhance coverage and ensure access to health services while in-person care was limited during the pandemic. Telemedicine provides such access when medically appropriate.