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Use of telehealth is rapidly expanding; make sure you know the requirements.
Telehealth solutions fall under the broad umbrella of digital health technologies.
APTA has been a long-time advocate for PTs and PTAs providing services via telehealth — the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to remotely provide health care information and services. COVID-19 has quickly changed the landscape of telehealth and other communication technology-based services.
Before You Begin Practicing Telehealth in Your State
Examine your state's physical therapy licensure law and corresponding state licensure board regulations/rules. In many states, the state physical therapy practice act is silent on the use of telehealth. If this is the case in your state, you may wish to contact your state licensure board to ensure there are no limitations or restrictions for practicing telehealth.
You should also review telecommunications modalities, consider federal and state legislation and regulations that govern your practice, billing and coding issues, and hardware and software requirements.
APTA has developed a telehealth certificate series to ensure and validate that the physical therapy profession is prepared to provide excellent care via telehealth.
Also see APTA's position on teleheath.
Recommended Content
Oct 16, 2020 / Article
What you need to know about documentation, coding, and billing consideration when providing telehealth services.
Dec 22, 2020 / Article
Using telehealth to deliver physical therapist services is expanding rapidly, and if you haven't already, you're probably considering it.
Dec 16, 2020 / Article
Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to remotely provide health care information and services.
Dec 22, 2020 / Article
Before implementing telehealth into your practice, review and become familiar with state and federal regulations in which you practice.
Mar 22, 2021
The use of telehealth by PTs and PTAs is not only appropriate, but effective in delivering effective care and expanding patient access to that care.
Additional Telehealth in Practice Content
May 24, 2023 / News
The decision to back off from locally based coverage decisions was fueled by APTA advocacy efforts.
May 15, 2023 / News
APTA and other organizations continue to push for clarification in a range of other facility settings.
May 11, 2023 / News
APTA met with HHS staff, who said guidance could be delayed. Until then, PTs in certain settings should be cautious about using telehealth.
May 9, 2023 / News
With the end of the health emergency looming, APTA, AOTA, and ASHA are urging CMS to eliminate a gap in its extension of telehealth waivers.
May 8, 2023 /
APTA staff experts discuss what will be changing after the PHE ends on May 11 — and what won't.
Apr 14, 2023 / News
APTA's outreach sparked the change, to be made official in July. Until then, denied claims should be resubmitted.
Apr 10, 2023 / Review
Authors of an article in PTJ say that telehealth-only and hybrid approaches were on a par with a six- to seven-session clinic-based program.
Mar 13, 2023 / Roundup
We've updated an APTA practice resource, advocated for continued patient access, and alerted MACs to denials they're making in error.
Jan 23, 2023 / News
APTA advised private practice PTs to continue direct supervision for PTA use of remote therapeutic monitoring until CMS clarified the issue.
Jan 1, 2023 / Resource
APTA has developed a telehealth certificate series to ensure that you are prepared to provide excellent care via telehealth.