The Effects of COVID-19 on Telemedicine Could Outlive the Virus

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced rapid and sweeping changes upon the US health care system. In response to the public health threat posed by COVID-19, several key government actions have impacted health care delivery. On March 13, 2020, the same day the president declared a national emergency,1 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a press release2 emphasizing the agency would “aggressively” respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 17, the CMS announced expanded coverage and payment3 for virtual health services defined as:“Telehealth, telemedicine, and related terms generally refer to the exchange of medical information from one site to another through electronic communication to improve a patient’s health.”3