Whenever you adopt new technology, you need to evaluate your liability and risks. Telehealth is no different, especially with all the moving parts and changing world dynamics. We have already discussed some of the most common telehealth-related legal aspects, such as licensing, privacy, security, confidentiality, and informed consent.
Since telehealth rules, regulations, and reimbursement rates are continuously evolving, you need to routinely check telehealth rules and regulations for your state (and/or state of practice) as well as rules related to reimbursement rates (discussed in another course in this unit) and guidelines for the payers most commonly used at your practice. The Center for Connected Health Policy has regularly updated state-based resources including a telehealth policy and reimbursement tracker you can access by state; it covers topics such as regulation, cross-state licensing, and reimbursement (American Medical Association, 2020).
Be sure to talk with your professional liability insurance provider as well. You will need to understand what your policies do and do not cover. Check to ensure you are covered when providing telehealth services within and across state lines. Some current professional liability policies exclude telehealth from standard coverage, so discuss any additional coverage you may need to ensure you are appropriately protected.
Nurses routinely cross state boundaries to provide the community with access to nursing care and services, and this is especially true with telehealth; a multi-state license facilitates this process. The enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC), which became effective in June 2017, allows for registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses to have one multi-state license that gives them the ability to practice in-person or via telehealth in their home state and other eNLC Compact states.
Under the eNLC, nurses can practice in other eNLC states without having to obtain additional licenses. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has put together this program to support nurses in member states to be able to provide telehealth services to patients in other states without having to obtain additional licenses. Licensing standards are aligned in eNLC states so all nurses applying for a multi-state license are required to meet the same standards.
As of May 2020, there were 32 states that were honoring the eNLC, with two more states expected to at least partially adopt it in the next quarter.
Source: www.nurse.org/articles/enhanced-compact-multi-state-license-eNLC/
An up-to-date map with those states participating can be found here (Gaines, K., 2020). If you are not in an active Compact state, you are unfortunately not eligible for the multi-state license. There is a provision, however, that as a resident of a non-Compact state, you may apply for a license by obtaining an endorsement from a Compact state.
Review the map discussed above that identifies which states participate in the eNLC and details specific legislation applicable to each state.
Telehealth is increasing, and the benefits have been demonstrated in the literature (American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, 2018; Arends, R. et al., 2020; and Lee, I. et al, 2020), but during times of health emergencies, telehealth can take center stage. There are special circumstances where the rules discussed above are waived or reprieve is provided in good faith. We have learned recently during the COVID-19 public health emergency that the government and accreditation agencies have stepped in to assist in making telehealth accessible and easier, for both patients and providers (Lee, I, et al., 2020).
To this end, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) waived several telehealth rules (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2020) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights include:
If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact TelehealthSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.
