Telehealth services became invaluable to millions of Americans struggling with mental health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, but bad actors are tarnishing the reputation of the expanded telehealth industry by over-prescribing stimulants like Adderall. The Center for Data Innovation calls for reforms to expand legitimate telehealth services and rein in bad actors.

Report Urges Crackdown on Digital Pill Mills Among Reforms to Strengthen and Expand Legitimate Telehealth Services

Congress should expand the health information technology incentives program to include mental- and behavioral-health providers and facilities.

To Do: Incentivize Adoption of EHRs for Mental Health Providers

The 21st Century Cures Act should go further to support one medical innovation: telehealth.

Congress Should Not Phone It In On Telehealth

Congress should establish a single, national license for telehealth providers.

To Do: Establish a National Telehealth License

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, which would require warning labels on social media platforms about potential mental health risks. However, the proposal is flawed due to the lack of scientific consensus linking social media to mental health harms and the ineffectiveness of pop-up warnings, which are often ignored by users, especially children.

Congress Should Not Mandate Warning Labels for Social Media 

Congress should require that eligibility for grants to improve Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs is contingent on interstate data sharing and that the CDC publish a report detailing best practices on the use of this data.

To Do: Make Grants to Improve Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Contingent on Interstate Data Sharing

Policy reform that encourages telemedicine can increase competition and efficiency to keep health insurance costs down.

Telemedicine’s Role in Improving Health Care Delivery

Telemedicine's Role in Improving Health Care Delivery

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, federal policymakers enacted a series of legislative and regulatory measures to expand access to telehealth services. Congress recently extended many of these changes for two years in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (H.R. 2617). However, policymakers should permanently extend these temporary measures to ensure that medical providers can continue to offer care to patients remotely after the extension ends.

Unless Congress Acts, Telehealth Progress During Covid Will Be Lost

ITIF has called for the creation of national telemedicine guidelines including setting a standard definition and establishing a single, federal licensure for providers.

To Do: Improve Advertising Guidelines for Controlled Substances

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Click Here for Adderall: Fixing Telehealth Advertising and Services To Prevent Stimulant Misuse

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Report Urges Crackdown on Digital Pill Mills Among Reforms to Strengthen and Expand Legitimate Telehealth Services

To Do: Incentivize Adoption of EHRs for Mental Health Providers

Congress Should Not Phone It In On Telehealth