S.B. 74, unanimously passed by the Alaska Senate on March 11, would enable out-of-state telemedicine providers licensed in Alaska to treat Alaska residents without first establishing an in-person relationship, subject to practice standards the legislation directs the Alaska State Medical Board to establish consistent with national norms. The bill, currently being considered by the Alaska House, would amend the existing law, which requires that telemedicine providers who do not have an established relationship with a patient be located in Alaska during the telemedicine consult or work with a patient facilitator as part of the encounter. The bill is also at odds with the Alaska State Medical Board's current Telemedicine Guidelines, which permit telemedicine consults between an out-of-state physician and a person in Alaska only if there is an established physician–patient relationship based on an in-person physical exam.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
