Telehealth utilization spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitated by state and federal policy change through the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) declaration. Utilization has tapered off from the height of the pandemic but is still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Telehealth is now an accepted modality of care delivery embraced by providers and patients, particularly for behavioral health care.

The PHE highlighted telehealth’s value in ensuring continuity of care during a crisis, but also its potential to address longstanding challenges such as provider shortages and accessibility, particularly for individuals with disabilities, chronic or complex health conditions, and those who face transportation barriers. However, disparities in access continue to hinder telehealth’s full potential.

Ensuring equitable telehealth access and use requires concerted effort from policymakers, health care providers, health plans, telehealth companies, and others to ensure that telehealth solutions are accessible, affordable, and culturally competent for all patients. This is especially important in New York State (NYS), which is demographically, culturally, economically, and geographically diverse.

The objectives of this report are twofold: (1) provide a comprehensive assessment of the post-PHE telehealth policy landscape in NYS; and (2) propose policy recommendations for NYS, informed by best practices, aimed at enhancing equitable access to telehealth.