Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Bob Latta (R-Ohio) introduced the Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act (H.R. 8283), which would provide temporary licensing reciprocity for health care professionals in all states for all types of services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AAMC Chief Public Policy Officer Karen Fisher, JD, sent a letter thanking the House members for introducing this bill. “While the use of telemedicine has been greatly expanded during the pandemic, the ability to provide access to care across state lines through telemedicine or by having providers temporarily re-locate to areas in need often is limited by state licensing laws.” The letter states, “Licensure restrictions – traditionally an area of regulation left to states, especially during a pandemic – have resulted in reduced access to care for patients. Physicians are unable to treat patients across state lines unless they are licensed in the patient’s state or their state has a compact with the other state.”
Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the TREAT Act in the Senate in August [see Washington Highlights, Aug. 7].