While most businesses and industries have adopted electronic mail as a standard means of communications, this is not the case for many physicians. Although physicians and other health care providers may use e-mail to communicate internally within a hospital or physician practice, most physicians do not communicate with their patients via e-mail. However, Texas physicians who are beginning to use e-mail to communicate with patients should be aware of the various rules and regulations associated with this activity, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and its regulations ("HIPAA") and the telemedicine rules adopted by the Texas legislature.
Please see full publication below for more information.