Page 12 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies A Comprehensive Scan of the 50 States and District of Columbia

Center for Connected Health Policy

STATE LAW/REGULATIONS MEDICAID PROGRAM

telemedicine setting, including issuing a prescription via
electronic means, will be held to the same standards of
appropriate medical practice applied to traditional in-
person clinical settings.

An online or telephonic evaluation solely by
questionnaire does not constitute an acceptable
standard of care.

Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.11

Services provided at sites other than Established
Medical Sites
Telehealth medical services may not be used to treat
non-malignant pain with scheduled drugs, with the
exception of patients who are enrolled in a qualified
multidisciplinary hospice or palliative care program.

Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.10

Prescribing drugs to an individual the prescriber has not
personally examined is usually inappropriate”. Before
prescribing a drug, the physician should make an
informed medical judgment. Ordinarily, this will require
that the physician personally perform an appropriate
history and physical exam, make a diagnosis, and
formulate a therapeutic plan, which might include a
prescription.

Source: AL Admin. Code r. 540-X-9-.11 (2011).
Consent

A provider is required to obtain informed consent from A written informed consent is required prior to an initial
the patient. telemedicine service.

Source: AL Admin. Code r. 540-X-15-08. AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider Manual,
p. 528, (Jan. 2015).
Location
The definition of an “Established Medical Site” is the Originating site must be located in Alabama. The distant
“location where a patient would present to seek medical site may be located outside of Alabama as long as the
care, where there is a patient site presenter, and where physician has an Alabama license and is enrolled as an
there are sufficient technology and medical equipment to Alabama Medicaid provider.
allow for an adequate physical evaluation which is
appropriate for the patient's presenting complaint. A For rehabilitative services, the originating site must be:
defined provider-patient relationship is required. A
patient's private home is not considered an established • Physician’s office;
medical site, except for emergent conditions.” • Hospital;
• Critical Access Hospital;
Source: AL Admin. Code 540-X-15-.05 • Rural Health Clinic;
• Federally Qualified Health Center;
Telehealth Medical Services at an Established
Medical Site • Community mental health center (to include co-
• Telehealth medical services provided at an located sites with partnering agencies;
established medical site may be used for all • Public health department.

patient visits, including initial evaluations to AL Medicaid Management Information System Provider Manual,

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