Also known as virtual health services and includes the practice of telemedicine. The provision of long-distance health care services, patient education, and health administration by physicians and other health care professionals using telecommunications and electronic information. Telehealth modalities include:

Allowable technologies differ by health care payor and may include:

Telehealth services may be covered by various health care payors and also may be subject to state-law licensing and parity laws (see Practice Notes, Telehealth Coverage and Reimbursement: Reimbursement of Telehealth and ERISA Litigation: Preemption of State Laws (Overview): Effect of Saving Clause Exception: State Telehealth Parity Laws and State Telehealth Requirements for Private Payors Chart).

The federal and state governments have encouraged the use of telehealth services in responding to the US outbreak of COVID-19, the disease that results from SARS-CoV-2 (see Global Coronavirus Toolkit, Practice Note, COVID-19 Compliance for Health and Welfare Plans: Telehealth and Other Remote Care Services, and Practice Note, Telehealth Coverage and Reimbursement: Reimbursement of Telehealth During COVID-19).