The Covid-19 pandemic hyper-accelerated the already quickly evolving telehealth landscape with unprecedented regulatory flexibility. Chief among that flexibility was the loosening of rules regarding delivery of healthcare services across state lines. Many of those exceptions are now expiring, creating legal standoffs in the process.

One of those cases being closely watched is a lawsuit filed by several healthcare practitioners and a patient against the state of New Jersey challenging its out-of-state telehealth licensing law.  Akerman Healthcare Partner Jordan Cohen recently shared his insights about the case and what it means with mHealthIntelligence. While he noted the significance of the issue for the healthcare industry and patients, he doesn't believe this case will result in any regulatory shifts.

“States have historically had nearly unfettered rights to regulate professionals furnishing services to residents in their state,” he told the publication. “And so, removing that would be just an absolute sea change… But I think a court is going to be very wary of removing the ability of states to regulate professionals furnishing services to residents in their state, which — it’s their job to protect their residents.”