Telemedicine, modernized licensing can help bridge health disparity gap

The Commonwealth Fund: Telemedicine, modernized licensing can help bridge health disparity gap

A report by the Commonwealth Fund found pervasive racial and ethnic inequities across health systems in all 50 states. The state-by-state analysis pointed to policy changes that could help bridge the gap, such as policies to help ensure health coverage, reduce administrative burden and improve service delivery – including via telemedicine and licensure modernization. When it comes to improving the delivery of services, one recommendation was to ensure that telemedicine remains an option, as it is an effective strategy for providing patients with convenient access to care. Another recommendation was to modernize medical licensing by allowing health care professionals to more easily practice across state lines.