A new Arizona law could permanently expand statewide use of virtual and telephonic doctors visits, which became more commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The law, signed by Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday, makes permanent telehealth flexibility that had been permitted under executive orders Ducey issued during Arizona s COVID-19 public health emergency.
The law takes effect immediately, officials with the Governor s Office said.
One key provision of that expanded flexibility was requiring health care insurance companies to expand telehealth coverage for all services that would normally be covered for an in-person visit. It catapults Arizona to the front of the line in terms of telehealth law nationally, said Dr. Ronald Weinstein, founding director of the University of Arizona s Arizona Telemedicine Program and a president emeritus of the American Telemedicine Association. It s huge.