Out-of-state physicians and surgeons: telehealth: license exemption.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how long the exemption lasts or what happens when a patient's condition changes after receiving care.

Telehealth for Out-of-State Doctors

This law allows doctors from other states to give telehealth care to people in California without needing a special license if the patient's condition is life-threatening and has been treated by an out-of-state doctor.

What This Bill Does

• Allows doctors who live outside of California to provide medical care through telehealth (like video calls) to patients in California.
• Expands the definition of 'eligible patient' to include people whose life-threatening condition is in remission and are continuing treatment with an out-of-state doctor.

Who It Names or Affects

• Patients who have life-threatening conditions or those whose condition is in remission and need ongoing treatment with an out-of-state doctor.
• Out-of-state doctors providing telehealth services to California patients.

Terms To Know

Telehealth

Using technology like video calls, emails, or apps for medical care.

Clinical trial

A research study that tests new treatments or drugs on patients to see if they work safely and effectively.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how long the exemption will last for out-of-state doctors.
• It is unclear what happens if a patient's condition changes after receiving care from an out-of-state doctor.

Official Summary Text

SB 1002, as introduced, Niello.
Out-of-state physicians and surgeons: telehealth: license exemption.
Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, establishes the Medical Board of California within the Department of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the licensure and regulation of the practice of medicine by physicians and surgeons. Existing law generally prohibits the practice of medicine without a physician’s and surgeon’s certificate issued by the board.
Existing law authorizes a health care provider to deliver health care via telehealth to a patient pursuant to specified protocols and conditions. Existing law defines “telehealth” as the delivery of health care services and public health via information and communication technologies to facilitate the diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient’s health care, and that telehealth includes synchronous interactions and
asynchronous store and forward transfers.
Existing law authorizes an eligible out-of-state physician and surgeon, as defined, to deliver health care via telehealth to an eligible patient. Existing law defines “eligible patient” as a person who, among other requirements, has a life-threatening disease or condition, as defined, and has not been accepted to participate in the clinical trial nearest to their home for the immediately life-threatening disease or condition, as specified, or in the medical judgment of a physician and surgeon, as defined, it is unreasonable for the patient to participate in that clinical trial due to the patient’s current condition and state of disease.
This bill would also include within the definition of “eligible patient” a patient whose immediately life-threatening disease or condition is in remission and the patient is continuing care with the previously established eligible out-of-state
physician and surgeon, and would provide that those patients are not subject to the clinical trial requirement, as specified.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF