Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced on Aug. 4 the Temporary Reciprocity to Ensure Access to Treatment (TREAT) Act (S. 4421), which would provide temporary licensing reciprocity for health care professionals in all states for all types of services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter thanking the senators for introducing the legislation, AAMC Chief Public Policy Officer Karen Fisher, JD, said, “The AAMC supports the TREAT Act because it provides important flexibility during an emergency to ensure that patients receive the care they need. This would have many important benefits for patients, including providing access and continuity of care for mental health treatment, oncology patients, and others with serious or life-threatening conditions, and allowing health systems to draw on available licensed clinicians to meet the demands of a surge as outbreaks continue to arise.”
Under current law, health care professionals must maintain licenses in each state they provide services. The bipartisan TREAT Act would allow health care professionals licensed in good standing to provide in-person care or telehealth visits from any state throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and in future national emergencies without jeopardizing their state licensure.
- Washington Highlights