Arizona may become the model state for telehealth access

At the onset of the pandemic last year, states scrambled to get individuals the healthcare access they needed during lockdowns. Governors quickly issued executive orders allowing individuals to see their healthcare providers virtually using phones and computers with very few restrictions. These temporary telehealth reforms eased the burden of accessing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and even veterinarians.

As a result, telehealth surged in popularity — virtual visits in 2020 were expected to number over 900 million. But executive orders only last as long as the state of emergency. Permanently improving telehealth access in states should be a top priority this year, and it seems legislators in Arizona agree.

Arizona state Rep. Regina Cobb, a Republican, has introduced a comprehensive telehealth bill that would change the most significant and least helpful restrictions on telehealth in Arizona. Namely, this legislation would require insurers to cover virtual visits the same as in-person visits, reimburse providers at the same rate for virtual and in-person visits, and allow for over-the-phone, audio-only telehealth visits. It would also allow Arizonans to access providers across state lines, something that is proving hugely beneficial for those otherwise locked out of care in other states.

“Ensuring all Arizonans have access to safe, reliable medical services is a top priority,” said Gov. Doug Ducey. “The telehealth bill moving through the legislature allows snowbirds visiting our state for months at a time to receive telemedicine from their home state doctor and allows Arizonans to have access to specialists across the country via telemedicine. The policy also expands access to medical services for low-income families and those living in rural areas.”

These reforms largely match what states began to allow at the onset of the public health emergency. Prior to the pandemic, state laws restricted patients from seeing out-of-state doctors via telehealth, and providers often did not want to offer telehealth services in the first place because of reimbursement and technological challenges.

Now, if patients can access doctors using just a phone call, the technological barrier is much lower. And if providers can charge insurers for these visits, then many more doctors and nurses can offer telehealth services. Yet, without legislative action, the ability to use telehealth will dwindle once the public health emergency is over.

Data from 2020 show just how damaging this could be for our health, and the benefits that telehealth provided for individuals during the pandemic are hard to overstate. Telehealth visits went far beyond patients seeking advice about COVID-19 symptoms. In fact, research shows that the majority of telehealth visits last year were for noncoronavirus conditions. Rather, consultations for chronic and behavioral/mental health issues surged by more than 100%.

And, with few exceptions, psychologists can’t practice across state lines. Last year wasn’t easy on anybody, and it’s no wonder that a report published in September showed a 12-fold increase in telehealth use for mental healthcare. Additionally, people in low-income areas made up about half of all telehealth visits early in the pandemic. Expanding telehealth options suddenly made healthcare easier to get and likely improved access to care overall for those in poor areas.

This, in essence, is the primary benefit of telehealth expansion: People gain access to doctors all across the country that cost or time may have prevented before. States that don’t allow out-of-state doctors to practice virtually across state lines prevent people from seeking specialized treatment. With telehealth expansion, these out-of-state doctors suddenly become available in patients’ insurance networks.

Ducey’s administration has long championed regulatory flexibility that’s the first of its kind, from universal licensing recognition, which allowed people from all over to move to Arizona and work, to making Arizona the first state in America to have a FinTech sandbox program that allows businesses to launch products on a limited scale without certain regulatory burdens. Implementing this bill would continue that trend.

“We know that those receiving medical care and their doctors know what’s best for their unique needs. Let’s allow them to make those decisions without having to jump through hoops with insurance companies or state regulatory boards,” Ducey said.

Now that we round the corner of the pandemic, states must not forget how important the temporary telehealth reforms were for individuals and their families. Far beyond COVID-19 relief, telehealth meant crucial access to care for medical conditions and mental health. Should Arizona pass a bill like this, it would once again become a model for the nation when it comes to innovative reform.