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.

Read more information here.

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.