Implications for Telehealth in a Postpandemic Future: Regulatory and Privacy Issues.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required health care systems to radically and rapidly rethink the delivery of care. One of the most remarkable ongoing changes has been the unprecedented accelerated expansion of telehealth. The pandemic may provide the incentive needed to realize the potential of telehealth. Nevertheless, concerns remain that safety and privacy may be compromised by rapid deregulation, despite data, although limited, regarding good overall quality.1 In studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic, patients reported high levels of satisfaction.2 This Viewpoint describes some of the most important telehealth regulatory changes that have occurred in response to COVID-19 and discusses some of the opportunities and challenges inherent in successfully harnessing the unexpected expanded role recently given to telehealth in the US.