Direct to Consumer (DTC) Telehealth: Does the Industry Need More Regulation?

In this episode, Nathaniel Lacktman, Chair of Foley & Lardner’s national Telemedicine & Digital Health Industry Team, visits with Quinn Shean, Managing Director at Tusk Strategies. They discuss the current state of direct to consumer (DTC) telehealth services, advice for entrepreneurs, what makes for good asynchronous telemedicine policy, and what the virtual care industry can expect to see in 2020. “If you're requiring that every patient interaction is going to require a video in places that have low broadband, you're furthering health inequities with a policy that you were hoping was going to broaden access.” “The rise of DTC telehealth … is not an invasive species, but rather the result of shortcomings in the existing way that traditional healthcare is provided, and new expectations of the upcoming patient population.” “You can take some of what you've learned from selling [other online goods] to engage patients, that type of marketing, but you better realize you're not selling mattresses and razors. Bring on a medical advisor. Build out an informal network of your medical team.” Read and download a free copy of Foley’s recent 50-state telemedicine law research survey at New 50 State Survey of Commercial Insurance Laws Reveals Progress.