---
title: "Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Management Recommendations and Resource Links"
description: Providing resources and information for medical practices investigating the use of telemedicine to offer services while minimizing risks to their patients and staff.
---

[ExchaNGe: Pandemic Resources ](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic)

# [Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Risk Management Recommendations and Resource Links](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic/telemedicine)

 Written by [NORCAL Group](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic/author/norcal-group) | 9/13/21 10:00 PM

Healthcare delivery disruptions by the COVID-19 pandemic, relaxation of telehealth regulations, and increased reimbursement rates have dramatically increased the use of telehealth modalities, particularly video conferencing with patients as an office visit alternative. It is important to remain mindful of the standard of care, which generally remains constant even within this alternative healthcare delivery environment. In fact, all of the risk mitigation and patient safety tools normally used in the delivery of patient care (e.g., thorough communication, care coordination, and documentation) should continue before, during and after a telehealth encounter. Consider the following recommendations:

- If you are treating patients across state lines under a COVID-19 temporary state or federal licensure waiver or modification, follow licensure updates in those states to ensure you do not inadvertently violate licensure laws as a result of the expiration of an emergency waiver. The Federation of State Medical Boards website has a [COVID-19 webpage](https://www.fsmb.org/siteassets/advocacy/pdf/states-waiving-licensure-requirements-for-telehealth-in-response-to-covid-19.pdf) that includes links to current state licensing requirements, including States Waiving Telehealth Licensure Requirements, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) maintains a [COVID-19 cross-state licensing page](https://www.cchpca.org/topic/cross-state-licensing-covid-19/), and the Alliance for Connected Care maintains a [Telehealth and Licensure Flexibilities During COVID-19 and Current State of Emergency Waivers page](https://connectwithcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/State-Emergency-Declarations-Telehealth-and-Licensure-Flexibilities-During-and-Post-COVID-19.pdf). These resources appear to be regularly updated to reflect changes in state licensing laws.
- Use a secure system and otherwise comply with HIPAA, even when using video telephony technologies that historically have not been considered compliant with HIPAA (e.g., FaceTime).
- Ensure internet speed and bandwidth are adequate for video conferencing and other means of telehealthcare delivery. (More information is on the HealthIT.gov website at [What is the recommended bandwidth for different types of health care providers](https://www.healthit.gov/faq/what-recommended-bandwidth-different-types-health-care-providers).) Test your video conferencing capabilities with a trusted colleague to gauge patient experience and remedy problems.
- Use hardware that provides patients with a technologically appropriate healthcare experience (e.g., ensure picture clarity is appropriate to accomplish an examination).
- Communicate the availability of telehealth at your practice, the method for scheduling a visit, and a description of what a telehealth visit will entail.
- Determine whether telehealth is appropriate for the particular patient.
- Ensure the patient is appropriately identified before delivering care or prescribing medication. Some ways to authenticate the patient include:
- At the start of the telehealth visit, set expectations for the patient. For example, acknowledge that a telehealth visit may not feel as personal as an in-person visit, but emphasize that the patient is still receiving quality healthcare.
- Bring structure to the telehealth visit by setting an agenda; asking for and identifying the patient’s primary concerns and priorities for the visit; and at the end of the visit, summarizing the plan of care, and emphasizing any follow-up concerns.
- Document the telehealth encounter as you would any patient encounter, including all communications with or about the patient; tests and results; follow-up recommendations; and coordination of care, etc. 
    - The NORCAL Group [COVID-19 Telehealth Consent Form](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic/telehealth-consent) can be used to facilitate the informed consent process.

### COVID-19 Telemedicine Resources

- American Medical Association: [AMA Quick Guide to Telemedicine in Practice](https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/digital/ama-telehealth-quick-guide)  
  Guidance to support physicians and practices in the implementation of telemedicine during the pandemic, including links to the AMA’s various telemedicine resources, including their Digital Health Implementation Playbook series
- The Center for Connected Health Policy: [COVID-19 Related State Actions](https://www.cchpca.org/covid-19-related-state-actions)  
  Detailed descriptions of state COVID-19 telehealth-related laws, regulations, and policy, including reimbursement regulations
- HHS: [Telehealth: Delivering Care Safely During COVID-19](https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/telehealth/index.html)  
  Discussions of HIPAA flexibility, waivers from CMS, cost-sharing for patients in federal health care programs, billing, and reimbursement
- The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers: [COVID-19 Telehealth Resources](https://telehealthresourcecenter.org/collections/covid-19-pandemics/)  
  General COVID-19 telemedicine resources and links to specific state and regional telehealth resource centers
- Health Resources & Service Administration (HRSA): [Billing for telehealth during COVID-19](https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/billing-and-reimbursement/)  
  Descriptions of how telehealth claims are reimbursed by federal government, state Medicaid programs, and private insurers during the pandemic
- The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: [Covered Telehealth Services for PHE for the COVID-19 Pandemic](https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth/Telehealth-Codes)  
  Covered Medicare telehealth services for the COVID-19 pandemic. List of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth.
- NORCAL Group: Virtual Consultations: [Risk Management and Patient Safety During the Pandemic and Beyond](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/virtual-consultations)  
  Patient safety and risk management recommendations specific to delivering care over an electronic medium
- NORCAL Group: [Telemedicine & Communications: COVID-19 Resource Bundle](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Resources/NORCAL_COVID-19-Pandemic-ExchaNGe_Bundle-Telemedicine-Comms.pdf)  
  Telehealth consent strategies; downloadable [COVID-19 Telehealth Consent Forms](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic/telehealth-consent); Resource Documents addressing telephone liability, texting, email, and patient portals; and Claims Rx articles on telemedicine risk management, and HIPAA data breach prevention

[View full post](https://www.norcal-group.com/pandemic/telemedicine)

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