Category Archives: Telemedicine

Board Revises Florida’s Telemedicine Practice Rule for Physicians

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telemedicine floridaEffective March 7, 2016, the Board of Medicine’s revised Telemedicine Rule, Rule 64B8-9.0141, F.A.C., goes into effect.  The amended rule reads:

 (1) “Telemedicine” means the practice of medicine by a licensed Florida physician or physician assistant where patient care, treatment, or services are provided through the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications. Telemedicine shall not include the provision of health care services only through an audio only telephone, email messages, text messages, facsimile transmission, U.S. Mail or other parcel service, or any combination thereof. Continue reading →

Federation’s Model Telemedicine Policy is Well Timed

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Many health policy experts are betting on the expanded role of telemedicine as an essential cost-saving, quality (and access) enhancing tool.  Yet legal and policy issues have dogged the development of useful telemedicine guidelines, making it difficult to know what’s ok and what’s not.  What sort of licensure is required for physicians practicing telemedicine?  When is the physician “practicing medicine” vs. “merely consulting?”  When is a physician patient relationship established?  Is one even necessary?  The newly developed model policy developed by the Federation of State Medical Boards should help guide states in developing specific telemedicine standards.

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Phoning It In – Florida’s Brand New Telemedicine Law

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Until recently, the State of Florida has successfully avoided regulating telemedicine to account for advancements in technology. In 2003, the State issued standards for telemedicine prescribing practice for medical doctors and doctors of osteopathy, but has not formally revisited its position in light of increasingly common telemedicine practice in several states – until now.

Florida’s forestalling has officially come to an end.  The State recently enacted new physician standards for telemedicine practice, and the State legislature is presently considering further regulation.  These new standards do not impinge upon the prior standards for telemedicine prescribing practice, but are issued in conjunction to it.  Continue reading →

Major Criminal Case in Palm Beach County Directed at Hormone Business

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Telemedicine hormoneA trial underway in West Palm Beach will have serious impact on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) businesses around the state.  HRT businesses are exploding around the state and country.  The underbelly of the business exists where business owners do not approach it as a medical service deserving of the same seriousness (clinically and legally) as any other healthcare service.  Four of the doctors involved have already pled guilty to conspiracy charges and were placed on five years probation.  One of the doctors relinquished his license.

The allegations involved in the case shed light on some of the more nefarious aspects of HRT business, which in this instance include— Continue reading →