Telemedicine Licensing

[FreeAdviceGirl]

Is it legal to open a national chain of medical offices across the country and operate under the medical license of a single doctor who is residing in 1 state?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

So are you talking about telemedicine or a brick and mortar office?

 

[FreeAdviceGirl]

Both ... All of the Brick and Mortar offices can provide telemedicine

 

[Zigner]

Your firm's attorney should be brought on board ASAP for a thorough review of this plan.

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

While I agree a lawyer needs to be involved, to practice medicine in a state requires one to be licensed to practice medicine in a state (or be licensed in a state that has an agreement with the state).

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state? What is the name of the licensed doctor's state?

All doctors need to be licensed to practice in any state where they will be providing medical advice and treatment to patients in that state, whether the care and advice is provided in a brick and mortar office or online.

Whether the medical licensing boards in these doctors states allow for them to offer medical advice online would depend on their states' professional licensing rules and professional ethics.

If you are asking only if a medical information website can be operated in a state by one licensed doctor in that state, though, the answer is yes. It would not even have to be a doctor who operates the medical information website.

The logistics of operating a website such as the one I think you are proposing, however, will require legal advice and direction that goes far beyond the scope of an Internet forum. The plan needs personal attention from an attorney (or two or three) in the licensed doctor's state.

 

[quincy]

Here for informational purposes is a link to an article on telemedicine and the Medical Licensure Compact, published by the University of Arizona's Telemedicine Program:

https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/bl...w-expedited-licenses-permit-physicians-expand

 

[FreeAdviceGirl]

The Doctor is licensed in all 50 states ... each Brick and Mortar location (1 in each of the 50 states) will have a Physician Assistant who will perform all medical duties at their respective Brick and Mortar location. Each Physician Assistant can also perform tele-medicine for patients in their respective state who cannot visit the brick and mortar location. So ... 50 Brick and Mortar locations with 50 total Physician Assistants and 1 corporate office with 1 total Doctor.

 

[quincy]

The Doctor is licensed in all 50 states ... each Brick and Mortar location (1 in each of the 50 states) will have a Physician Assistant who will perform all medical duties at their respective Brick and Mortar location. Each Physician Assistant can also perform tele-medicine for patients in their respective state who cannot visit the brick and mortar location. So ... 50 Brick and Mortar locations with 50 total Physician Assistants and 1 corporate office with 1 total Doctor.

A physician assistant needs to be supervised by a physician licensed in his/her state. How much supervision depends on the state.

That is one issue I see.

The rest of the issues - and there are many just with operating a website alone - will need personal review, advice and direction from an attorney licensed to practice in the doctor's state of residence.

 

[FreeAdviceGirl]

I've sent an inquiry to the IMLCC regarding Physician Assistant Scope of Practice to see how it applies with the Interstate Compact.

https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-...te-law-physician-assistant-scope-practice.pdf

 

[quincy]

I've sent an inquiry to the IMLCC regarding Physician Assistant Scope of Practice to see how it applies with the Interstate Compact.

https://www.ama-assn.org/sites/ama-...te-law-physician-assistant-scope-practice.pdf

What is the name of your state?

I read the information from the same site you link to above. States have different requirements (and limitations) for their physician assistants.

It is also important to note that a significant number of states are not part of the Medical Licensure Compact.

I think you (or the doctor or whoever is trying to start this website) will need to sit down with legal professionals for a review of the telemedicine plans. Yours is not a website or plan that can be developed and put into action rapidly.

 

[FreeAdviceGirl]

What is the name of your state?

I read the information from the same site you link to above. States have different requirements (and limitations) for their physician assistants.

It is also important to note that a significant number of states are not part of the Medical Licensure Compact.

I think you (or the doctor or whoever is trying to start this website) will need to sit down with legal professionals for a review of the telemedicine plans. Yours is not a website or plan that can be developed and put into action rapidly.

Florida

 

[quincy]

Florida is not an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact state.

 

[FreeAdviceGirl]

Florida is not an Interstate Medical Licensure Compact state.

State Residence is not a requirement of IMLCC

Compact Eligibility Requirements:

• You must hold a full, unrestricted medical license in a Compact Member State that are available to serve as an SPL (please see map on home page).
  AND at least one of the below must apply: (SPL Qualification-section 4(a))
  a. Your primary residence is in the SPL(State of Principal Licensure)
  b. At least 25% of your practice of medicine occurs in the SPL
  c. Your employer is located in the SPL
  d. You use the SPL as your state of residence for U.S. federal income tax purposes

 

[cbg]

I'm going to be blunt here.

This is not a DIY project. You are, frankly, an idiot if you attempt something like this without a licensed attorney in the applicable state(s) advising you on it. A message board is not an appropriate substitute.