TABLE 2.

Recent regulatory and legal changes related to the COVID‐19 global pandemic and telemedicine

Original policy	Temporary COVID‐19 provision
Telemedicine: originating site restricted to rural medical sites outside of the patient's home. Physician and patient may not be in the same physical location.	Telemedicine: all geographic requirements suspended, permitting telehealth encounters on the same premises, such as within an ED.
EMTALA: MSE must be performed at point of contact within the ED and inperson.	EMTALA: MSE may be performed via telehealth. Patients may be redirected to offsite screening locations.
Billing: emergency medicine services not billable if provided through telemedicine.	Billing: all ED services, including critical care, may be provided and billed through telemedicine.

Note: Modified from American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) informatic: “COVID‐19 response: Medicare telehealth coverage expansion during COVID‐19 public health emergency.” ²⁵

Abbreviations: ED, emergency department; EMTALA, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act; MSE, medical screening exam.