A growing number of states are requiring health insurers to cover telehealth visits at parity with in-person appointments. The legislative push follows pandemic-era expansions that demonstrated the viability and cost-effectiveness of virtual care delivery.
Patients in rural areas stand to benefit the most, gaining access to specialists who would otherwise require hours of travel. Mental health services delivered via telehealth have seen particularly strong utilization growth.
Insurers are adjusting their networks to include a broader range of telehealth providers, though reimbursement rate disputes remain a point of contention in several markets.
