It’s typical for healthcare providers who are licensed in one state to be permitted to treat patients only in that state. A new set of regulations could open to door to treating patients in multiple states, however—at least virtually. Currently, 24 states belong to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which reduces barriers that prohibit providers from treating patients in multiple states if they’re only licensed in one. Physicians do have to apply and pay fees in order to do so. This could be a boon for urgent care operations that are taking a leap of faith that telemedicine could be a solid revenue stream or that have trouble staffing in rural areas that border another state. On the other hand, this development could also provide an advantage for urgent care competitors who offer telemedicine as their stock in trade. Tennessee is the latest state to sign on; physicians there will be allowed to provider virtual healthcare to patients in other states as of New Year’s Day.
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Multistate Telemedicine Practice Could Be a Boost or a Drain for Urgent Care Business