The expansion of federal and state telehealth flexibilities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic loosened policy restrictions and improved access to telehealth for millions of people, although challenges remain for certain under resourced populations. As telehealth continues to take off, there are questions around how public health agencies are engaging in telehealth activities. Each public health department operates differently and offers a varying perspective on how they implement and support telehealth to increase access to care for communities.

In this podcast episode, Scott Harris (SHO-AL) and Mei Kwong (executive director, Center for Connected Health Policy) explore the current state of telehealth during COVID-19 and how it’s being used as a tool to access care, spotlighting examples from public health.

Guests:

• Scott Harris, MD, MPH, State Health Officer, Alabama Department of Public Health
• Mei Kwong, JD, Executive Director, Center for Connected Health Policy

Resources:

State, Federal Policies Increase Virtual Access to Behavioral Health Care

States Leverage Telehealth to Respond to COVID-19

What’s Next for Telehealth: States Try to Make COVID-19 Telehealth Options Permanent

Telehealth: An Opportunity for State and Territorial Health Agencies to Improve Access to Needed Health Services