Idaho’s new Virtual Care Access Act (the “Act”) amends Idaho’s existing law to make it easier to render telehealth in Idaho effective July 1, 2023. The requirements of the new Act are summarized below....more
Electronic prescribing (“e-prescribing”) allows health care providers to submit prescriptions to a pharmacy electronically, using a secure software system. E-prescribing increases patient safety, security, and efficiency...more
Last year, the Oklahoma legislature joined a growing number of states in taking direct aim at the opioid crisis by enacting legislation designed to combat the forgery of paper prescriptions. More than a year and a half after...more
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed into law two bills that expand the delivery of telehealth services in the state. In particular, the legislation: • Permits providers to prescribe medications without a...more
The most recent Florida legislative session resulted in an array of new laws impacting health care providers. The following is a summary of some of those laws which affect a large number of providers....more
Governor Desantis recently signed House Bill 831, which will require certain healthcare practitioners to “electronically transmit prescriptions”. Unfortunately, the legislature left this term undefined, creating some...more
On October 24, 2018, the President signed the sweeping, opioid-focused SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (Pub. L. 115-271, the “Act”) into law. Title III, Chapter 4 of the Act, titled the Special Registration for...more
Connecticut has taken another step towards expanding the meaningful use of telemedicine in connection with treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. SB 302, signed by Governor Dannel Malloy and effective July 1,...more
Congress has taken another step forward to require the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to activate a special registration allowing physicians and nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances via...more
It seems the efforts of telemedicine advocates to change federal law and allow greater prescribing of controlled substances are no longer falling on deaf ears. Congress just released a pair of draft discussion bills to amend...more
On October 18, 2008, the Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (the “Haight Act”) came into law as the federal government’s first attempt to address the public health risks associated with online...more
Indiana has taken another step towards expanding the meaningful use of telemedicine in connection with clinical services and prescribing. HB 1337, signed by Governor Eric Holcomb and effective July 1, 2017, will allow...more
Over the weekend, the Texas governor signed into law legislation which significantly relaxed Texas's previously restrictive telemedicine laws. (2017 Texas Senate Bill no. 1107)....more
On May 12, 2017, the Texas State Legislature passed SB 1107, a law expanding the use of telemedicine in the Lone Star State. The bill is now on its way to Governor Abbot’s desk where he is expected to sign it into law....more
The Texas legislature passed S.B. 1107 yesterday, May 18, 2017. The bill, negotiated with input from the Texas e-Health Alliance and various other stakeholder groups, expands options for health care providers utilizing...more
South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley signed the South Carolina Telemedicine Act (S.B. 1035) into law, on June 3, 2016, establishing new telemedicine practice standards in the Palmetto State. Prior to the Act, the controlling...more
Alaska Governor Bill Walker signed SB 74 into law on June 21, 2016, expanding the use of telemedicine in the Last Frontier state. Specifically, SB 74 removes Alaska’s previous in-state presence requirements for prescribing...more
Louisiana’s governor signed into law, HB 570, (the “Act”), eliminating a prior requirement that physicians practicing telemedicine maintain an office in Louisiana or contract with in-state providers. The Act also changes the...more
Virginia has made strides to expand the telehealth offerings available to its residents and the Old Dominion took another step forward advancing telemedicine when it enacted a bill amending Virginia Code § 38.2-3418.16 to...more
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) signed into law, on March 24, 2016, a new bill (House Bill No. 4463) implementing a variety of telemedicine practice standards and remote prescribing rules in the Mountain State....more
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed into law, on March 21, 2016, a new bill (House Act No. 1263) implementing a variety of telemedicine practice standards and remote prescribing rules in the Hoosier State. Effective July 1,...more
A physician in New Hampshire can now establish a valid doctor-patient relationship without needing a prior in-person exam. This is among several recent changes in New Hampshire’s telemedicine laws that offer new opportunities...more