Expansion of Telehealth Services in Response to COVID-19

This memorandum provides an overview of how the spread of the coronavirus and associated disease (COVID-19) has prompted insurers, federal and state health organizations, and behavioral and mental health organizations to adopt policies that support and encourage the use of telehealth.  Telehealth enables long-distance health care and other health-related services to occur with the use of telecommunication technology.  Telehealth can assist in the provision of health services as health organizations and governments encourage social distancing and advise limiting non-urgent visits to health care providers to slow the spread of COVID-19.