TMB Limits Telemedicine in Texas
The Texas Medical Board has issued limits on telemedicine, stating that a physician-patient relationship can be established through a “face-to-face” visit held either in person or via telemedicine. The TMB states that essentially the only scenario prohibited in Texas is one in which a physician treats an unknown patient using telemedicine, without any objective diagnostic data, and no ability to follow up with the patient.
This rule change has come as a blow to Dallas-based Teledoc, the largest provider of telehealth services in the U.S., which has already raised questions about whether the TMB rules may have unintended negative consequences for traditional on-call coverage arrangements for physicians.
Read about the rule change that goes into effect April 30, 2015.