Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signs order to expand telemedicine, loosening restrictions

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order Thursday that would temporarily expand telemedicine and loosen some of the regulations around it in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The order encourages all doctors to use telemedicine when possible.

It also allows out-of-state physicians to treat patients in Kansas via telemedicine without getting a license from the state. Though licensing is not required, out-of-state physicians are still required to communicate with the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts.

This order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it is rescinded, until May 1 or until the State of Disaster Emergency proclaimed March 12 expires — whichever is earlier.

Aside from the telemedicine expansion, Kelly signed another executive order that would provide conditional and temporary relief for certain motor carrier rules and regulations in response to COVID-19.