Feds, States Tackle Licensing Barriers to Cross-Border Telehealth

Vice President MIke Pence’s announcement Wednesday that doctors will be allowed to practice medicine across state lines via telehealth during the coronavirus crisis is eliciting wary reactions from attorneys and telehealth supporters.

State licensing rules, which typically require health-care providers to be licensed in the state where their patient is located, have long acted as a barrier to cross-border provision of telehealth services.

Pence said a document on the change would be forthcoming, but the Department of Health and Human Services has provided no further information so far.

Attorneys and promoters of telehealth are split as to whether the HHS ...