In an April 10 vote, the Texas Medical Board voted 13-1 to prohibit physicians from issuing prescriptions to unknown patients via telemedicine, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The board's decision means patients in Texas will have to be examined in-person by a physician before they can be written a prescription.
The ruling came after roughly four years of feuding with Dallas-based telemedicine firm Teladoc. The decision's effective date was deferred until June 3, however, to allow the state legislature the chance to consider and weigh in on the matter.
Teladoc released a statement following the board's ruling, saying, "As Texas' population booms, healthcare expenses climb and the shortage of primary care physicians grows, telehealth is a solution for patients dealing with common, nonemergency issues...This rule change only serves to intensify these problems without providing any benefit to Texans."
According to board president, Michael Arambula, MD, PharmD, the decision balances both convenience and safety.
"Texas patients deserve accountability and integrity in the doctor-patient relationship, and the rules adopted today ensure that," Dr. Arambula told The Dallas Morning News. "Patient safety can never take a backseat to convenience."
More articles on telemedicine:
How open are patients to telemedicine? Opinions split down the middle, finds Mayo survey
Patient attitudes toward telemedicine: 3 key findings
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Mongolian hospital to expand partnership on telemedicine