Florida Telemedicine Rules May Change

The Florida Department of Health has adopted new telemedicine rules, but several bills on the same subject are under consideration by the Florida Legislature.

On March 12, the state's department of health adopted Rule 64B-9.0141 and Rule 64B15-14.0081 regarding telemedicine. The new rules allow out-of-state physicians to render consultations with Florida licensed physicians without being licensed in the state.

By allowing the consultations, the new rules are in conflict with the longstanding model of the Florida medical boards that physicians who perform a professional service that contributes to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient in Florida must be licensed to practice medicine in Florida, according to a Lexology report.

The bills currently pending before the Florida legislature support the medical boards' view by requiring a physician offering telemedicine services — including consultations — within the state to be licensed in Florida, according to the report.

The tension between the recently adopted rules and the pending bills lies in the need to facilitate the use of telemedicine to treat patients across the state and national boundaries while at the same time ensuring the physicians who diagnose and treat Florida residents are subject to the jurisdiction of the Florida Board of Medicine and the Florida Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

Whether the Florida legislature changes or clarifies current law will be decided within the next 45 days of the Florida Legislative Session.

More Articles on Telemedicine:

Telemedicine Could Be Helpful for Nighttime Patient Admissions 
Humana Opens Telemedicine Clinics in 2 San Antonio Walmarts 
Michigan Telemedicine Initiative Aims to Cut Hospital Costs, Readmissions

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