How Will the End of the PHE Affect Telehealth and Digital Health?

While some waivers have been extended for two years, other freedoms including an important Ryan Haight Act provision will end soon, forcing some providers to take action now. With the Biden Administration announcing the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, healthcare organizations are assessing how their digital health and telehealth programs will be affected. While Congress put in place a temporary reprieve in its budget bill, certain freedoms and waivers will end soon. "This is going to be a trying time" for health systems, says Jacob Harper, a partner in the Morgan Lewis law firm who focuses on the healthcare industry. "It's kind of a double-edged sword. Without knowing [what will happen with the extended waivers], it's really hard to evaluate what the future looks like when you don't know the long-term outcomes."