CT Gov. Extends 'Relaxed' Provisions for Telehealth

The legislation Lamont signed Monday allows relaxed rules enacted through his executive order to remain in place through at least June 30, 2023.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday signed legislation that extends for two years "relaxed telehealth services provisions" initially mandated by executive order during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Making it easier for people to connect with their doctors or medical advisors is a goal that we should strive to attain," Lamont said in a media release.

"Throughout the last year, patients across Connecticut have found that connecting with their medical providers through videoconference or telephone has been incredibly beneficial and practical for a wide variety of reasons, so it absolutely makes sense to allow for these services to continue."

With the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Lamont issued Executive Order No. 7G to temporarily relax state laws regulating telehealth. The legislation Lamont signed Monday, House Bill 5596, allows the relaxed rules enacted through his executive order to remain in place through at least June 30, 2023.

The extended services:

• Expand types of providers and licensed professions to provide telehealth services, such as dentists, behavioral analysists, music therapists, art therapists, physician assistance, physical therapist assistance, and occupational therapy assistants;
   
• Permit audio-only telehealth services;
   
• Permit licensed providers in other states to offer telehealth services to Connecticut residents as long as they have the minimum professional liability insurance coverage.

"I appreciate the state legislature for recognizing the benefits of the emergency executive order that I signed at the beginning of the pandemic, and I appreciate their bipartisan cooperation in passing this legislation so that I could sign this into law today and these relaxed telehealth rules can continue," Lamont said.