FL H0947

Creates section 456.4501, Florida Statutes, establishing definitions and standards for telehealth services provided by licensed health care practitioners in Florida.

Telehealth providers must meet the same standard of care as in-person providers and may perform patient evaluations via telehealth without requiring prior medical history research or physical examinations if the telehealth evaluation is sufficient to diagnose and treat the patient.

Nonphysician telehealth providers acting within their scope of practice are not deemed to be practicing medicine without a license.

Authorized telehealth providers may prescribe controlled substances Schedules I-V via telehealth, except for treating chronic nonmalignant pain or issuing physician certifications for marijuana.

Requires telehealth providers to document services in patient medical records using the same standard as in-person care, and mandates the Department of Health to disseminate educational materials on telehealth modalities by January 1, 2020; takes effect July 1, 2019.