With the Public Health Emergency Ending in May, What's Next for Telehealth?
On May 11, 2023, the federal public health emergency (PHE) will come to an end. While COVID-19 is still a public health priority, the U.S. is in a much better spot with COVID-19 cases today than we were three years ago. A recent Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report shows that daily reported COVID-19 cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are all down by at least 80%. These numbers indicate a need to scale back some aspects of the U.S. response to the PHE. With this reduction will come some changes to reimbursement, insurance coverage, and the overall impact of telehealth. Ryan Kelly, Executive Director for the Mississippi Rural Health Association, recently went on AFMC TV to discuss the state of telehealth and how providers can continue to utilize telehealth after the PHE ends in May.