Clarify the kind of visit and follow-up
Telehealth means care at a distance, using a video call, phone or online exchange.
Ask whether you will talk live or send information for someone to read later. Ask when you can expect a reply.
Ask how follow-up questions work
Guidance for medical boards, adopted in May 2026, says the person providing care must give patients a way to ask further questions.
The federation of medical boards recommends against treating someone using only a fixed form with no further questions. This guidance is for state boards; the rules are set by each state.
A form that lets the person providing care ask you more questions is different from a fixed form with no further exchange.
Check the state rather than assuming
Examples of state rules checked on September 26, 2026 show different terms for forms and phone-only prescribing.
Ask the practice how its visit process meets the rules where you will be. Give your location for that visit.
Ask about the next step when an online visit cannot meet the need
If an online visit falls short, medical-board guidance requires the person providing care to arrange the tests needed or refer the patient elsewhere for care.
The same guidance holds remote care to the standard used for care in person.
Read beside this note
- Medical-board guidance on remote care
These recommendations tell state boards how care at a distance can work. Use them to ask about your visit, then ask which rules your state sets.