February 2025 Telemedicine trends: Important legislative updates

The depression in telemedicine shows monthly state legislative and regulatory developments that affect health service providers, companies for telemedia and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies that provide and facilitate the provision of virtual care.

Trend in February:

• Intergovernmental compact
• Telephony
• Veterinarian
• Telemedicine practice standards

A closer look

Proposed legislation and regulation:

• North Dakota Proposed changes to the Code of the North Dakota Century in connection with optician license and standards for the provision of teleoptometry. The changes describe the circumstances under which a licensed optician can use telemedicine to ensure care. The proposed practice standards include requirements in order to establish a proper relationship between providers and the patient and requirements in connection with the consent after informed consent.
• In IndianaSenate Bill 473 proposed changes that would enable providers to prescribe certain agonist opioids by telemedical technologies for the treatment or treatment of opioid dependency. The current law only allows practically agonistic opioids.

Finalization of legislation and the activity of rules:

• Ohio Senate Bill 95, which approves the operation of remote levy pharmacies, defines as pharmacies, in which the delivery of medicinal products, patient advice and other pharmacist care are provided and monitored via telemazie systems.
• The Texas The Commission for the Health and Human Services passed a change in the Texas government code, in which the providers for Teledentistry's services must be reimbursed. The change enables flexibility to a dentist to use synchronous audiovisual technologies in order to carry out an oral evaluation of an established customer. This change makes oral ratings more accessible and prevents unnecessary trips for customers in the Texas Health Steps program.
• The Arkansas Governor signed Senate Act 61 into the law and approved the practice of telemedical veterinary medicine in the state. The invoice includes exercise standards for telemedical veterinary telemedicine and the provision of emergency care.
• Also in ArkansasHouse Bill 1427 has given the healthy mothers and act healthy babies. The law changes the law of Arkansas to improve the health of mothers and to determine reimbursement procedures for remote ultrasound examinations.

Compact activity:

• Several states have advanced license compacts. These compact enables certain categories of doctors to practice across national borders, be it personally or through telemedicine. The following states have introduced invoices to issue this compact:

Why it is important:

• The states further expand the ability of the practitioners to provide telemedia services across state borders. While telemedicine is often seen as an alternative method for supply, it can sometimes be the most effective and efficient option. The expansion of the Interstate License Compact improves access to qualified practitioners, especially in sub -supplied and rural areas. These compact also improve career opportunities and reduce the stress associated with the acquisition of several state licenses.
• States continue to apply the standards for telegesundheit practice to various professions. Legislative and regulatory trends reflect the recognition that telemedicine can be used in a variety of special practices, including veterinary, dentistry and optometry.

Telemedicine is an important development in care, but the regulatory patchwork is complicated.