Telemedicine Association Grades States on Telemed Policies

The American Telemedicine Association has released two state policy reports which identify gaps in coverage and reimbursement, and in physician practice standards and licensure.

"These first-of-their-kind reports identify and compare state policies on a report card, assigning each state grades ranging from A-to-F based on telemedicine reimbursement and physician practice standards," said ATA executives.

The first report reviewed and compared telemedicine coverage and reimbursement standards for every state in the U.S. based on 13 indicators related to coverage and reimbursement. Seven states received the highest possible composite score suggesting a supportive policy landscape that accommodates telemedicine adoption. Those states with the highest scores include: Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Virginia. States receiving the lowest possible composite score include: Connecticut, Iowa, and Rhode Island.

The second report reviewed and compared physician practice standards and licensure for telemedicine for every state in the U.S. Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C. received the highest possible composite score suggesting a supportive policy landscape that accommodates telemedicine adoption and usage. Alabama received a C, the lowest composite score of all the states.

Both reports, including research methodology and state-specific report cards, may be downloaded here.