; and (B) is not affirmatively excluded from practice in the licensing or certifying jurisdiction or in any other jurisdiction; (2) the term Secretary means the Secretary of Health and Human Services; and (3) the term telehealth services means use of telecommunications and information technology (including synchronous or asynchronous audio-visual, audio-only, or store and forward technology) to provide access to physical and mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, intervention, consultation, supervision, and information across distance. 4. Temporary authorization of telehealth and interstate treatment (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or State law or regulation regarding the licensure or certification of health care providers or the provision of telehealth services, a health care professional may practice within the scope of the individual’s license, certification, or authorization described in section 3(1)(A), either in-person or through telehealth, in any State, the District of Columbia, or any territory or possession of the United States, or any other location designated by the Secretary, based on the licensure, certification, or authorization of such individual in any one State, the District of Columbia, or territory or possession of the United States. (b) Scope of telehealth services Telehealth services authorized by this section include services provided to any patient regardless of whether the health care professional has a prior treatment relationship with the patient, provided that, if the health care professional does not have a prior treatment relationship with the patient, a new relationship may be established only via a written acknowledgment or synchronous technology. (c) Initiation of telehealth services Before providing telehealth services authorized by this section, the health care professional shall— (1) verify the identification of the patient receiving health services