PA Telemedicine

Updated on April 26, 2020.  Medical content reviewed by Dr. Joseph Rosado, MD, M.B.A, Chief Medical Officer

Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Program: Telemedicine

At this time, Pennsylvania does not have any specific regulations pertaining to the practice of telehealth/telemedicine. Legislation — House Bill 491 — that would define and regulate the practice of telehealth in Pennsylvania is currently with the House Committee on Labor and Industry.

Pennsylvania is also part of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, a group of states collaborating on an expedited pathway for licensure for qualified physicians wishing to practice telemedicine in more than one state.

Gov. Tom Wolf (D) in March 2020 temporarily eased restrictions on telemedicine in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, allowing out-of-state practitioners to provide services to Pennsylvanians during the crisis.

Rules governing telemedicine in Pennsylvania for prescribing medical marijuana are changing. Patients interested in getting a medical marijuana evaluation conducted in the privacy of their own home, or location of their choosing, can access it via a secure real-time, live-video connection here: https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/medical-marijuana-doctors/medical-marijuana-telemedicine-portal/

Useful Resources

• Pennsylvania Code Chapter 16 State Board of Medicine
• Pennsylvania Code 17.4 Extraterritorial License
• Telemedicine Survey Guidelines and Department of Health Survey Policy
• American Telemedicine Association
• Interstate Medical Licensing Compact — Pennsylvania