COLUMBUS, Ohio — In an attempt to increase important medical care across the state of Ohio while keeping patients and health care workers as safe as possible amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has signed an order expanding telehealth care.

Telehealth provides medical, mental health and behavioral health care over the phone or through video appointments.

Social workers, family counselors and marriage counselors will also have an increased access to provide telehealth care under the order.

Previously, telehealth appointments required the first appointment to be a face-to-face meeting and required social workers and counselors to go through special training before they were able to conduct telehealth appointments.

The order, signed by DeWine on Saturday, will remove those previous requirements.

DeWine said he hopes to lower the requirements to utilize telehealth will allow more patients to be more readily seen and get the care they need without having tho leave their homes.

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