Global Scans · Telehealth · Weekly Summary

• CMS will waive the interactive telecommunications system requirement for certain asynchronous dermatology and ophthalmology telehealth services, allowing for digital images to be transmitted to a practitioner and evaluated outside of a real-time interaction. Arnold & Porter
• Medical scribes in 2026-27 need sharper regulatory awareness because documentation now touches privacy, cybersecurity, interoperability, telehealth, coding specificity, AI-assisted tools, and sensitive health information requests. Medical Scribe
• The Substance Use Disorder Telehealth and Education Program will receive $1.2 million to educate and screen young people for substance use disorder in K-12 schools, clinics and colleges and universities. Magnolia Tribune
• In 2026, we will see urgent care centers functioning as de facto primary care providers; virtual-first concierge practices rising in popularity; and patients piecing together their healthcare journey through apps, telehealth programs, and specialist-driven care models. MedicalMine Inc.
• The first chamber of the Hawaii legislature passed HB 2558 aimed at addressing Hawaii's physician shortage by allowing out-of-state doctors to establish initial physician-patient relationship with Hawaii residents through telehealth services under certain conditions. JD Supra
• Hawaii and Arkansas will train providers to help them increase their use of telehealth. Bipartisan Policy Center
• Nebraska will invest in a statewide, telehealth-enabled simulation network to bridge gaps in education and training (e.g. obstetrics drills, EMS scenarios, dental safety modules). Bipartisan Policy Center
• Many Medicare Advantage plans offer telehealth benefits beyond what Original Medicare requires. Livindi
• HealthTech & Telehealth - ClimateTech & Green Energy: Following record investments in 2025, - EdTech & Specialized Digital Courses: Language learning software is another high performer, with projected 20.1% revenue growth in 2026. LinkedIn
• While mental health care received some of the strongest permanent protections, the telehealth extensions through 2027 apply to a broad range of other medical services. Blue Moon Senior Counseling
• As hospital-at-home programs scale and telehealth infrastructure matures, demand for connected monitoring devices and analytics platforms will strengthen across North America. Mobility Foresights
• Congress should consider how the Medicare and Medicaid programs can provide care better adapted to the risks of climate change through telehealth, better care coordination, and updated coverage policies for items like air conditioners. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Anti-abortion groups are pushing the FDA to move faster with a review that they hope will result in restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone, including blocking its prescribing via telehealth platforms. KSAT San Antonio
• The FDA has sent out dozens warning letters to telehealth companies and online pharmacies over misleading marketing about the effectiveness of their compounded weight loss medications since last fall. NBC Chicago
• Patients have 64% higher odds of completing a telehealth appointment compared to an in-person visit, and phone-based sessions make therapy even more accessible for seniors who might otherwise skip appointments due to transportation challenges. Blue Moon Senior Counseling
• By 2026, telehealth services are expected to become even more advanced. Phenixcare
• Telehealth enforcement is expected to remain intense in 2026, especially where platform business models intersect with controlled substance prescribing and aggressive consumer acquisition tactics. Medical Economics
• Telehealth dominates two-thirds of visits, though significant workforce shortages persist, with projections showing 36,780 psychiatrist shortfalls by 2038. Spreaker
• As providers use technology to expand access to behavioral health services, internal frameworks that treat telehealth delivery, prescribing compliance, and AI governance as connected systems will drive success. Healthcare IT Today | Fresh, Daily, Practical Healthcar

Last updated: 25 June 2026