Telemedicine in Otolaryngology in the Context of the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Department of Health and Human Services implemented a range of flexibilities to expedite the adoption of telehealth. As our specialty moved past the height of the pandemic and the use of telehealth transitioned from a necessity to a convenience, numerous health care providers (physicians, advanced practice providers, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists) recognized its benefits and continued to offer these services. In May 2023, the current administration terminated the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, with some telehealth guidelines in effect until December 31, 2023, and others extended through December 31, 2024. Amidst the changing telehealth landscape, the objective of this commentary is to explain policy implications on Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and provide insight into how to best implement telehealth under these new guidelines.