Telehealth utilization spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated by state and federal policy change through the public health emergency declaration. Before and throughout the pandemic, New York State enacted several temporary measures to expand access to telehealth. New York removed restrictions to telehealth delivery and broadened its telehealth policies for Medicaid and commercial plans to enable providers to deliver a comprehensive set of virtual health care services in a variety of settings. Although New York has been a national leader on telehealth, opportunities remain to strengthen and enshrine existing policies.
Manatt Health prepared a fact sheet for the New York Health Foundation highlighting key issues policymakers are considering to expand equitable access to telehealth for all New Yorkers:
- Payment and Coverage Parity: Will temporary telehealth coverage and reimbursement parity across payers be extended or codified in statute?
- Payment Rates for Community Health Centers: Will different types of providers have different payment rates and flexibilities to provide telehealth?
- Cross-State Provider Licensure: Will telehealth be leveraged to allow providers in other states to provide patient care in New York and relieve workforce shortage and strain?