Telemedicine and Health Care Law: Emerging Legal Issues and Challenges
What are the legal issues with telemedicine?
There are many legal pitfalls that are important to consider when it comes to a telemedicine program. Licensing. Most states require a physician to be licensed in the state where they are practicing medicine, Physician-patient relationship, Tele-prescribing, Potential for fraud and abuse, Privacy and confidentiality
Telemedicine and Health Care Law: Emerging Legal Issues and Challenges
Telemedicine is quickly becoming a popular method of healthcare delivery, bringing with it many legal issues and challenges. From questions concerning privacy, professional conduct and credentialing, to the potential for fraud, the legal landscape of health care is changing quickly. This article will discuss the emerging legal issues and challenges associated with telemedicine and health care law.
First and foremost, the health care industry is highly regulated and requires providers to adhere to specific laws and regulations. Therefore, it is important to understand how telemedicine fits into this existing legal framework. Most states have yet to create specific laws and regulations that specifically deal with telemedicine, meaning that providers may face legal challenges as they navigate the area.
The most prominent legal challenge associated with telemedicine is that of privacy and confidentiality. While telemedicine can provide a more efficient and convenient way to receive care, it also means that data is being sent and stored electronically. This electronic storage opens up various risks for the patient’s data to be compromised or misused. To protect patient privacy, providers must ensure that they use only secure methods of transmission and storage of patient data.
In addition to privacy concerns, telemedicine also raises questions concerning professional conduct and liability. Most states have yet to create laws specifically dealing with telemedicine, meaning that providers may fall back on existing standards governing the practice of medicine. Further, providers must understand their potential liability associated with the delivery of care via telemedicine.
Finally, with changing technology, the potential for fraud is increasing. Providers must be aware of potential scams or false billing practices that are now enabled through telemedicine. In addition, providers must understand the relevant regulations governing telemedicine fraud in their respective states.
Overall, the legal landscape of health care is changing as telemedicine rapidly grows in popularity. Providers must familiarize themselves with the legal implications of providing care through telemedicine, ensuring that they are adhering to existing laws, regulations and standards governing the industry. The legal issues and challenges described above will likely continue to grow as telemedicine technology advances, meaning that providers must stay up to date on relevant legal developments.
