Telehealth Today: 9 Key Updates to Stay Ahead

Big news in virtual care management! From Arizona entering the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact to West Virginia’s new framework for allowing dietitians to provide nutrition services via telehealth,, it’s been a big couple of months for virtual care delivery. Keep reading to catch up on the latest developments in your state.?

On another note, we’re thrilled to announce that Stephanie D. Barnes will be speaking at the National Bar Association Convention! Will you be there to join the conversation?

Arizona?

Enters Counseling Interstate Compact

TLDR: Effective April 2, 2024, Arizona entered the Professional Counselors Licensure Compact. This will enable Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) in Arizona to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable LPCs licensed in other Compact states to practice in Arizona without the need to obtain additional licenses.

?Key Takeaways:?

• Under the Compact, LPCs licensed in member states have the right to practice in any member state via telehealth.
• Arizona is the thirty-fourth state to enter the Compact.?
• Check out the full revisions here.

Clarifies Out-of-State Telehealth Provider Registration Process for Select Specialties?

TLDR: Effective May 13, 2024, Arizona adopted a rule that clarifies registration requirements for out-of-state providers seeking to provide telehealth services in Arizona. Specifically, the new rule offers a detailed outline of what should be included in an initial application to become a registered healthcare provider; the time frame for application review and registration renewal; requirements for providing health care services via telehealth; and enforcement considerations.?

Key Takeaways:?

• This new rule applies to individuals who are licensed audiologists, hearing aid dispensers, midwives, radiologic technologists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and speech-language pathologist assistants (SLPAs).?
• Check out the full revisions here.?

Colorado

Establishes Parameters for Veterinarians Practicing Telemedicine Services

TLDR: Effective August 9, 2024, Colorado adopted a new rule that specifies parameters for veterinarians providing telehealth services. Veterinarians must establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship before using telecommunications to see a patient and before tele-prescribing. Specifically, the veterinarian must be licensed in Colorado and record informed consent for telemedicine services in the patient’s record. Under the rule, veterinarians are prohibited from recommending treatment or care for an animal based solely on a client’s responses to an online questionnaire. This change provides much-needed clarity on requirements that apply to providing tele-veterinary services in Colorado.?

Key Takeaways:?

• A veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be established during an in-person physical examination of the animal or during timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.?
• It is considered an unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine for a person who is not a licensed veterinarian in Colorado to use telemedicine to provide veterinary services.
• Check out the full revisions here.

Kansas

Enters Social Work Licensure Compact

TLDR: ?Effective July 1, 2024, Kansas will enter the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will enable licensed social workers in Kansas to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable licensed social workers in other Compact states to practice in Kansas without needing additional licenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Under the Compact, licensed social workers in member states have the right to practice under a privilege to practice in any member state via telehealth.
• Check out the full revisions here.?

Kentucky?

Establishes Social Work Telehealth Standards

TLDR: Effective April 4, 2024, Kentucky established new requirements for telehealth social work services. Specifically, the requirements include (i) disclosing to the client potential risks to privacy and confidentiality of information when using technology, (ii) assessing the appropriateness of telehealth based on the client’s current condition and needs, (iii) documenting the provided telehealth service in the client’s record, and (iv) a continued prohibition of fee splitting with other telehealth providers. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2025, social workers providing telehealth services in Kentucky must complete a two-hour training course on using telehealth to provide social work services. This change clarifies Kentucky’s expectations for telehealth social work services. Check out the full revisions here.

Enters Social Work Licensure Compact

TLDR: ?Effective On April 5, 2024, Kentucky entered the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will enable licensed social workers in Kentucky to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable licensed social workers in other Compact states to practice in Kentucky without needing additional licenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Under the Compact, licensed social workers in member states have the right to practice in any member state via telehealth under a privilege to practice.
• Check out the full revisions here.

Maine?

Enters Social Work Licensure Compact

TLDR: Effective July 1, 2024, Maine will enter the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will enable licensed social workers in Maine to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable licensed social workers in other Compact states to practice in Maine without needing additional licenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Under the Compact, licensed social workers in member states have the right to practice under a privilege to practice in any member state via telehealth.
• Check out the full revisions here.

Mississippi?

Enters Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact

TLDR: Effective April 15, 2024, Mississippi entered the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). This will enable licensed psychologists in Mississippi to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable licensed psychologists in other Compact states to practice in Mississippi without needing additional licenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Under the Compact, licensed psychologists in member states have the right to practice in any member state via telehealth.
• Check out the full revisions here.

Tennessee?

Orders Medicaid to Include Payment for Remote Ultrasounds and Non-Stress Tests

TLDR: Effective no later than December 31, 2024, Tennessee Medicaid must allow reimbursement for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal non-stress tests. To receive reimbursement, a provider must use FDA-approved digital technology to collect the patient’s medical data for electronic transmission to another healthcare provider in a separate location for interpretation. The remote procedures will use existing CPT codes.

Key Takeaways:

• The new Medicaid provision will expand coverage of ultrasounds and fetal non-stress tests, allowing pregnant persons in Tennessee greater access to providers.
• Check out the full revisions here.

Virginia

Orders Medicaid to Include Payment for Remote Ultrasounds and Non-Stress Tests

TLDR: Effective July 1, 2024, Virginia Medicaid must allow reimbursement for remote ultrasound procedures and remote fetal non-stress tests. The remote procedures will use existing CPT codes. The new Medicaid provision will expand coverage of ultrasounds and fetal non-stress tests, allowing pregnant persons in Virginia greater access to providers.

Key Takeaways:

• The remote procedures and tests are only reimbursable when the provider uses FDA-approved digital technology to collect the patient’s medical data (for electronic transmission to another healthcare provider).?
• Check out the full revisions here.

Enters Social Work Licensure Compact

TLDR: Effective April 8, 2024, Virginia entered the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will enable licensed social workers in Virginia to practice in other Compact states. It will also enable licensed social workers in other Compact states to practice in Virginia without needing additional licenses.

Key Takeaways:

• Under the Compact, licensed social workers in member states have the right to practice in any member state via telehealth under a privilege to practice. Virginia is the seventh state to enter the Compact.?
• Check out the full revisions here.

West Virginia

Establishes Telehealth Requirements for Licensed Dietitians

TLDR: Effective April 15, 2024, West Virginia enacted a rule establishing procedures for licensed dietitians to practice telehealth. The rule outlines the practitioner-patient relationship and overall practice requirements for providing medical nutrition therapy or nutrition therapy services via telehealth.

Key Takeaways:

• “Telehealth” is defined as the application of evaluative, consultative, preventative, and therapeutic services delivered through telecommunication and information technologies.
• For services rendered solely through telehealth, a practitioner-patient relationship may only be established through telehealth technologies incorporating interactive audio using store and forward technology or real-time videoconferencing.?
• Licensed dietitians providing services via telehealth must:
• Check out the full revisions here.?