Telehealth expands in Illinois for dental, physical therapy patients

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed laws expanding remote access to dental care and physical therapy, but the state could do more to remove barriers to health care access for patients.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed two bills expanding telehealth services in the state, allowing patients to virtually visit their dentists and physical therapists under certain conditions.

Senate Bill 2586, introduced by Illinois Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham, D-Chicago, establishes the practice of teledentistry in Illinois. The thought of seeing a dentist through your phone or computer screen may seem odd, but patients won’t have their teeth cleaned remotely – teledentistry, as defined by the law, means using communication devices for diagnosis, treatment planning and education.

This legislation comes at a time when the state needs more dental services. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, 75 of the 102 Illinois counties are considered dental “Health Professional Shortage Areas” as determined by population-to-provider ratio, the percent of population below the federal poverty level and the travel time to the nearest care, among other criteria.

SB 2586 would give patients another option for care when physical contact is not needed.

House Bill 5087, sponsored by state Rep. Lawrence Walsh, D-Joliet, establishes the practice of remote physical therapy. Physical therapy patients will be able to receive care for exceptional cases clinically justified and documented. Initial evaluations without a referral or established diagnosis cannot be performed through telehealth unless necessary to address a documented hardship. A patient must be able to request and receive in-person care within the state.

These two bills provide patients with more options to receive care and are solid advances, but there is more the state could do to expand access to health services.

Illinois could join the majority of states that are members in the Physical Therapy Compact, or the 10 states – including five in the Midwest – that are members of the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. These interstate compacts create a uniform standard that allows dental or physical therapy professionals licensed in a state that is a member of the respective compact to practice in any of the member states.

State leaders were right to make these advances. They can do more to benefit Illinoisans’ health by joining the dental and physical therapy interstate compacts.