Comprehensive Review of Telehealth Law and Literature: Implications for Future Policy and Patients

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Capstone is to determine whether telehealth is effective at producing positive health outcomes, and what the current status of state telehealth law is in the United States and how can the law be changed to improve the implementation and use of telehealth services. METHODS: A literature review of PubMed was used to find articles relating to telehealth and its effectiveness. A law review of each state’s telehealth and telemedicine laws was conducted using Westlaw. RESULTS: The literature review uncovered that telehealth has the potential to produce positive health outcomes for a variety of conditions and settings. The law review revealed that each state is truly unique in its adoption and implementation of telehealth. Whether it is defining telehealth or telemedicine, determining reimbursement, or establishing licensure and consent requirements, no two states are the same. CONCLUSION: Telehealth does produce positive health outcomes and is beneficial for public health. However, more studies should be conducted to determine when telehealth interventions should be used and for what conditions to provide the best care for patients. In addition, telehealth law varies state to state, making it difficult for providers and attorneys to determine and advise what is required of providers that want to practice using telehealth. Uniform telehealth law should be created to help reduce confusion and encourage the use of telehealth