Title: Telehealth

Summary: Deleting a prohibition on prescribing controlled substances through telehealth, etc.

Full Text:
An act relating to telehealth; amending s. 456.47, F.S.; revising the definition of the term  telehealth ; deleting a prohibition on prescribing controlled substances through telehealth; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 456.47, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 456.47 Use of telehealth to provide services.  (1) DEFINITIONS. As used in this section, the term: (a) Telehealth  means the use of synchronous or asynchronous telecommunications technology by a telehealth provider to provide health care services, including, but not limited to, assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and monitoring of a patient; transfer of medical data; patient and professional health-related education; public health services; and health administration. The term does not include audio-only telephone call s, e-mail messages,or facsimile transmissions. (2) PRACTICE STANDARDS.  (c) A telehealth provider may not use telehealth to prescribe a controlled substance unless the controlled substance is prescribed for the following: 1. The treatment of a psychiatric disorder; 2. Inpatient treatment at a hospital licensed under chapter 395; 3. The treatment of a patient receiving hospice services as defined in s. 400.601; or 4. The treatment of a resident of a nursing home facility as defined in s. 400.021. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.