Telemedicine Moved Forward During the Pandemic. Our Policies and Regulations Need to Catch up

The COVID-19 crisis transformed consumer expectations around healthcare delivery—and now the bell can’t be unrung. After an initial spike in telehealth usage that was 78 times higher than normal, the latest data from McKinsey shows that utilization is now 38 times higher than pre-pandemic levels and holding strong. It’s easy to see why: Telemedicine is a convenient, cost-effective, efficient way of accessing quality care.

Unfortunately, a return to outdated, draconian policies and regulations threatens to bring this progress to a standstill, restrict vital telehealth access to millions of Americans, and exacerbate health inequities.

Demand for virtual care skyrocketed during the onset of the pandemic, and in response, many barriers to access were temporarily lifted so patients could connect with providers in the safety of their own homes