[ST. PAUL, MN] – A recently published study from the Department of Human Services finds that using telemedicine to ensure safe access to vital health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic has offered several advantages to public health care program enrollees and health care providers. Because of these proven benefits, the report recommends that increased access to telemedicine should continue after the pandemic ends.

Early in 2020, under the authority of the COVID-19 peacetime emergency, Governor Tim Walz removed many limitations on telemedicine for people covered by Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, allowing Minnesotans to continue receiving care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. According to early findings on those policy changes in the recently published Minnesota Department of Human Services Telemedicine Utilization Report , this resulted in:

• Improved attendance at appointments, with fewer no-shows and late arrivals.
• Easier access to treatment and involvement of patients’ family members.
• Receipt of health care services that otherwise would have been skipped due to illness or fear of contracting COVID-19, travel distance, lack of transportation, providers not delivering services in in-person settings, or lack of care for children or older adult family members.
• Freed time for providers to treat more people by eliminating drive time between clinic sites.

“Now more than ever, Minnesotans deserve seamless and convenient access to health care,” said Governor Walz. “The Department of Human Services’ report makes it clear that telemedicine is working for both patients and providers, and by making some changes to state law this legislative session, we can ensure those benefits continue after the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In Minnesota’s COVID-19 Recovery Budget, Governor Walz recommends permanent changes to state law that make telemedicine more easily available to public health care enrollees, including:

• Removing the current limit on the number of telemedicine visits per week.
• Expanding the types of providers allowed to deliver care via telemedicine.
• Clarifying that a person’s home may serve as the originating site for covered services.
• Allowing real time, two-way interactive audio-and-visual telemedicine visits to satisfy face-to-face payment requirements for federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, Indian Health Services, certain tribal clinics and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

These changes provide greater flexibility to patients and make treatment services more accessible by eliminating the need to travel. Telemedicine options also increase the opportunities for patients to find culturally competent care that best meets their needs.

“Increasing access to health care has been vitally important during COVID-19 pandemic, and it will continue to be a priority for our Administration after the pandemic as well,” said Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. “This study proves that telemedicine provides the flexibility and convenience that Minnesotans deserve in their health care.”

The state will continue to study the effectiveness of telemedicine as more complete data provides a fuller picture of its utilization during the pandemic and longer-term impacts on health outcomes.