You are an independent contractor with licenses in 5 states carrying your own malpractice coverage and working for a national company that provides video visits on demand. Due to the COVID-19 crisis multiple states dropped the requirement for in state licensure to practice. Your telemedicine company wants to take advantage of this and has now told you there will be visit requests to you from those states. Do you agree? What are other implications besides active state licensure that need to be addressed? What if the company advises that because the Ryan Haight Act has been suspended they will now allow controlled substance refills on the site? Would you refill controlled substances?
2. What are the ethical concerns with direct to consumer telemedicine companies? With the expansion of DTC, should the medications offered on these sites just be made over the counter since that would be the most convenient for patients? Why or why not?
3. Will telehealth contribute to or improve health disparities seen in our country? Why?
