A new Arizona law could permanently expand statewide use of virtual and telephonic doctors' visits, which became more commonplace during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law, signed by Gov. Doug Ducey on Wednesday, makes permanent telehealth flexibility that had been permitted under executive orders Ducey issued during Arizona's COVID-19 public health emergency. The law takes effect immediately, officials with the Governor's Office said. One key provision of that expanded flexibility was requiring health care insurance companies to expand telehealth coverage for all services that would normally be covered for an in-person visit. "It catapults Arizona to the front of the line in terms of telehealth law nationally," said Dr. Ronald Weinstein, founding director of the University of Arizona's Arizona Telemedicine Program and a president emeritus of the American Telemedicine Association. "It's huge."