LEGAL CORNER
Expansion of Telehealth in Arizona: I M P L I C AT I O N S F O R R U R A L H E A LT H C A R E C O M M U N I T I E S
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ne of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it brought on a rapid transition to telehealth. A Public Health Emergency (“PHE”) has existed in Arizona since March 11, 2020. During the PHE, Governor Ducey expanded access to telehealth in Arizona through a series of Executive Orders. However, all of the benefits achieved by the Executive Orders are set to expire at the conclusion of the PHE. Legislative action was required to make the temporary telehealth exceptions permanent. In recognition of the benefits achieved by the temporary loosening of the telehealth requirements during the
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pandemic, on May 5, 2021, Arizona adopted a comprehensive telehealth bill (House Bill 2454, the “Bill”) that has the promise to drastically decrease barriers to healthcare access faced by residents of Arizona’s rural communities, as well as simplify the process for providing care to patients living in rural Arizona. Two components of the Bill that could significantly benefit rural communities are provisions allowing physicians to provide telehealth via audio-only encounters, and allowing physicians who are licensed out of state to provide telehealth services to Arizona patients.
For more information on this article please visit arizonaphysician.com/hb2454.
