ATA, Johns Hopkins Launch Three-Year Push for Interstate Telehealth Reform
New initiative to help patients access out-of-state care after pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities expired.
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2026 – The American Telemedicine Association in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine announced a three-year initiative Tuesday aimed at reducing state licensure hurdles to expand telehealth access through targeted federal solutions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, temporary rules made it easier for patients to have video visits with doctors in other states. But now that those rules have ended, it is harder to schedule these appointments.
Many states have gone back to their old, stricter rules about which doctors can treat patients. This means patients often can't get care through telehealth from doctors who live in a different state, Hopkins Medicine reports.
The Licensure Innovation for Telehealth Transformation initiative seeks to educate policymakers on federal pathways that address specific care gaps, such as continuity of care and access to rare medical expertise, while still preserving state-based licensure and oversight.
“A specialist who wishes to treat patients across state lines needs to invest countless hours and thousands of dollars in obtaining and maintaining multiple licenses,” said Doctor Helen Hughes, medical director at Johns Hopkins Medicine’s Office of Telemedicine.
Hughes said these restrictions create unnecessary burdens for patients, including those with rare diseases, college students, and individuals needing mental health services.
ATA and Johns Hopkins emphasized that their approach aims to support state regulation rather than replace it. The initiative is complemented by new ATA policy principles that focus on protecting continuity of care and enabling timely access to expertise.
“State-specific licensure rules restrict patients from accessing essential healthcare services,” said Kyle Zebley, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association. “Our approach is intentionally narrow yet highly meaningful: Targeted federal allowances in exceptional circumstances, paired with respect for state licensure and accountability.”
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