Dive Brief:
- As of June 3, one of the most restrictive telemedicine laws in the country will go into effect in Texas.
- On April 10, the Texas Medical Board adopted a new rule which prohibits physicians from answering questions via text message or e-mail until after a face-to-face meeting with the patient; it also outlaws evaluations or consultations via telephone until after the physician and patient meet face-to-face.
- The new law marks the end of a four-year battle between the medical board and Teladoc, a Dallas-based telemedicine provider.
Dive Insight:
According to Teladoc, the new rule will cause around 2.4 million Texans to lose access to much-needed healthcare services. In a letter to the board, Jason Gorevic, CEO of Teladoc said, "Unfortunately, the Texas Medical Board’s decision to adopt a new rule takes away Texans’ access to a safe, affordable and convenient healthcare option that many have depended upon for more than a decade."
Gorevic goes on to say, "As written today, the new rule also outlaws the longstanding practice of physicians providing traditional on-call services for one another, affecting every physician and patient in the state. If the rule change takes effect this summer, it will represent a huge step backward for Texas."