Limitations

Below are some limitations for our telemedicine practice:

STATE PRESCRIBING

  • We do not currently provide telemedicine services to patients who live solely in Alaska. We are actively working on resolving this limitation.
  • Due to state law, we cannot prescribe erectile dysfunction (ED) medications (e.g. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) via telemedicine for patients who live in the following states:
    • South Carolina
    • North Dakota

The states listed above prohibit the prescribing of erectile dysfunction medications via telemedicine.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

  • We do not currently provide medical marijuana card services via telemedicine. At this time, medical marijuana services must be obtained in person.

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

Our Physicians have full prescribing privileges and are in good standing with the DEA in every state of licensure. As such, controlled substances may be prescribed via telemedicine, but only under the following circumstances:

  • Opiates are NOT prescribed via Telemedicine. Opiate prescriptions can only be issued if the patient was seen and physically examined by a Provider in person.
  • Stimulants (e.g. Adderall) may be prescribed to ADHD patients, but only under the following conditions:
  1. A Physician who is licensed and trained in Behavioral Health, Mental Health, and / or Psychiatry must evaluate the patient and write for the prescription.
  2. Stimulants (e.g. Adderall) must not be prescribed as first line for ADHD
  3. In many cases labs (bloodwork) must be obtained. If you have labs from the past 90 days, we can use them. If you do not have labs from the past 90 days, we will schedule you with one of our lab services providers across the country.
  • Stimulants (e.g. Phentermine) may be prescribed to weight loss patients, but only under the following circumstances:
  1. A Physician who is licensed and has experience in providing weight loss services must evaluate the patients and write for the prescription.
  2. Stimulants must not be prescribed as first line for weight loss. They are prescribed as a secondary option or for those who have only achieved weight loss success with stimulants in the past.
  3. Stimulants are often prescribed in combination with other non-stimulant medications (e.g. metformin and orlistat).
  4. In many cases labs (bloodwork) must be obtained. If you have labs from the past 90 days, we can use them. If you do not have labs from the past 90 days, we will schedule you with one of our lab services providers across the country.
  • Hormones such as Testosterone and Growth Hormone may be prescribed, but only under the following circumstances:
  1. If the patient has a documented medical need.
  2. If labs (bloodwork) is obtained. Labs are mandatory for hormone treatments. If you have labs from the past 30 days, we can use them. If you do not have labs from the past 30 days, we will schedule you with one of our lab services providers across the country.

The above processes are compliant with state and Federal Regulations, because we require for the patient to establish a relationship with the Provider prior to receiving controlled substance prescriptions. Health Pals does not utilize Nurse Practitioners (N.P.) or Physician Assistants (P.A.) for prescribing Controlled Substances. All Controlled Substance prescriptions are prescribed under the supervision of Physicians (M.D. and D.O.)