Online Prescribing
A distant site provider will not utilize telemedicine to treat a patient located in Arkansas unless a professional relationship exists between the healthcare provider and the patient or as otherwise meets the definition of a professional relationship as defined in Section 17-80-402. Existence of a professional relationship is not required in the following circumstances:
- Emergency situations where life or health of the patient is in danger or imminent danger or
- Simply providing information in a generic nature not meant to be specific to an individual patient.
“Professional relationship” means at a minimum a relationship established between a healthcare professional and a patient when:
- The healthcare professional has previously conducted an in-person examination of the patient and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals;
- The healthcare professional personally knows the patient and the patient’s relevant health status through an ongoing personal or professional relationship and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals;
- The treatment is provided by a healthcare professional in consultation with, or upon referral by, another healthcare professional who has an ongoing professional relationship with the patient and who has agreed to supervise the patient’s treatment, including follow-up care;
- An on-call or cross-coverage arrangement exists with the patient’s regular treating healthcare professional or another healthcare professional who has established a professional relationship with the patient;
- A relationship exists in other circumstances as defined by rule of the Arkansas State Medical Board for healthcare professionals under its jurisdiction and their patients.
- A relationship established under rules of the Arkansas State Medical Board may be utilized for telehealth certification;
- A relationship exists in other circumstances as defined by rule of a licensing or certification board for other healthcare professionals under the jurisdiction of the appropriate board and their patients if the rules are no less restrictive than the rules of the Arkansas State Medical Board; or
- The healthcare professional who is licensed in Arkansas has access to a patient’s personal health record maintained by a healthcare professional and uses any technology deemed appropriate by the healthcare professional, including the telephone, with a patient located in Arkansas to diagnose, treat, and if clinically appropriate, prescribe a noncontrolled drug to the patient.
- For purposes of this subchapter, a health record may be created with the use of telemedicine and consists of relevant clinical information required to treat a patient, and is reviewed by the healthcare professional who meets the same standard of care for a telemedicine visit as an in-person visit
A professional relationship cannot be established only through:
- An internet questionnaire
- Email message
- Patient generated medical history
- Text messaging
- Facsimile machine
- Any combination of means listed above
See statute for additional avenues to establish the professional relationship.
SOURCE: AR Code 17-80-402 & 403 (Accessed Feb. 2026).
A physician-patient relationship must be established in accordance with Regulation 2.8 before the delivery of services via telemedicine. A patient completing a medical history online and forwarding it to a physician is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology. See regulation for additional requirements.
A physician using telemedicine may NOT issue a prescription for any controlled substances defined as any scheduled medication under schedules II through V unless the physician has seen the patient for an in-person exam or unless a relationship exists through consultation or referral; on-call or cross-coverage situations; or through an ongoing personal or professional relationship.
SOURCE: AR Rules and Regulation. Sec. 060.00.16-005 (060 01 CARR 001), (Accessed Feb. 2026).
When mifepristone or another drug or chemical regimen is used to induce an abortion, the initial administration of the drug or chemical shall occur in the same room and in the physical presence of the physician who prescribed, dispensed, or otherwise provided the drug or chemical to the patient.
SOURCE: AR Code Annotated Section 20-16-603(b)(1). (Accessed Feb. 2026).
When mifepristone or another drug or chemical regimen is used to induce an abortion, the initial administration of the drug or chemical shall occur in the same room and in the physical presence of the physician who prescribed, dispensed, or otherwise provided the drug or chemical to the patient.
Without a prior and proper patient-provider relationship, providers are prohibited from issuing prescriptions solely in response to an Internet questionnaire, an Internet consultation, or a telephone consultation.
“Proper practitioner-patient relationship” means that before the issuance of a prescription, a practitioner, physician, or other prescribing health professional performs a history and in-person physical examination of the patient adequate to establish a diagnosis and to identify underlying conditions or contraindications to the treatment recommended or provided unless:
- The prescribing practitioner is consulting at the specific request of another practitioner who:
- Maintains an ongoing relationship with the patient
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Has performed an in-person physical examination of the patient; and
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Has agreed to supervise the patient’s ongoing care and use of prescribed medications;
- The prescribing practitioner interacts with the patient through an on-call or cross-coverage situation; or
- The relationship is established through telemedicine pursuant to the Telemedicine Act, § 17-80-401 et seq.
SOURCE: AR Code Annotated Sec. 17-92-1003(14)(B). (Accessed Feb. 2026).
Medical Board
Requiring minimum standards for establishing Patient/Provider relationships. Provider is defined as a person licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board. A Provider exhibits gross negligence if he provides and/or recommends any form of treatment, including prescribing legend drugs, without first establishing a proper Patient/Provider relationship.
- For purposes of this regulation, a proper Patient/Provider relationship, at a minimum requires that:
- The Provider performs a history and an “in person” physical examination of the patient adequate to establish a diagnosis and identify underlying conditions and/or contraindications to the treatment recommended/provided, OR
- The Provider performs a face to face examination using real time audio and visual telemedicine technology that provides information at least equal to such information as would have been obtained by an in-person examination; OR
- The Provider personally knows the patient and the patient‘s general health status through an “ongoing” personal or professional relationship;
Appropriate follow-up be provided or arranged, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals.
- For the purposes of this regulation, a proper Patient/Provider relationship is deemed to exist in the following situations:
- When treatment is provided in consultation with, or upon referral by, another Provider who has an ongoing relationship with the patient, and who has agreed to supervise the patient‘s treatment, including follow up care and the use of any prescribed medications.
- On-call or cross-coverage situations arranged by the patient‘s treating Provider.
Exceptions – Recognizing a Provider‘s duty to adhere to the applicable standard of care, the following situations are hereby excluded from the requirement of this regulation:
- Emergency situations where the life or health of the patient is in danger or imminent danger.
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Simply providing information of a generic nature not meant to be specific to an individual patient.
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This Regulation does not apply to prescriptions written or medications issued for use in expedited heterosexual partner therapy for the sexually transmitted diseases of gonorrhea and/or chlamydia.
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This Regulation does not apply to the administration of vaccines containing tetanus toxoid (e.g., DTaP, DTP, DT, Tdap, Td, or TT) or inactive influenza vaccines.
SOURCE: AR Regulations, 060 01 CARR 001 (060.00.18-005), (Accessed Feb. 2026).
A Patient/Provider relationship must be established in accordance with Rule 2.8 before the delivery of services via telemedicine. Provider is defined as a person licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board. A patient completing a medical history online and forwarding it to a Provider is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology.
A physician shall not issue a written medical marijuana certification to a patient based on an assessment performed through telemedicine. A Patient/Provider relationship established under Rule 2.8 may be utilized for medical marijuana recertification by telehealth. “Telehealth certification” means the electronic assessment of a patient by a provider in connection with an application for a registry identification card under the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016.
Telemedicine does not include the use of audio-only electronic technology by a provider to renew a written certification that was previously issued to the same patient.
SOURCE: AR Rule 239.02.22-003 – Rule 38, Telemedicine, (Accessed Feb. 2026).
Medical Marijuana Certification
“Telehealth certification” means the electronic assessment of a patient by a practitioner in connection with an application for a registry identification card under § 5 of the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment of 2016, Arkansas Constitution, Amendment 98.
SOURCE: AR Code 17-80-402 (Accessed Feb. 2026)
Drug-induced, chemical and surgical abortions shall not be performed by telemedicine.
SOURCE: AR Admin Code 007.05.20-009 (Accessed Feb. 2026).
When a physician or other licensed prescriber authorizes or provides new prescriptions or refill medications to a pharmacy that is not physically located in this state or to a pharmacy that utilizes common carriers to deliver medications through the mail for a new patient who has not previously received pharmacist services or prescriptions filled through that pharmacy, that pharmacy shall:
- Establish a professional relationship between a pharmacist and the patient by telephone or telemedicine consult.
SOURCE: AR Code 17-92-120 (Accessed Feb. 2026).
Social Work
A social worker/client relationship must be established in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-80-402 & 403 and Rule XIV before the delivery of services via telemedicine. A client completing a psychosocial history online and forwarding it to a social worker is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology. A social worker exhibits gross negligence if he or she provides and/or recommends any form of treatment via telemedicine without first establishing a proper social worker/client relationship.
“Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a social worker and a client established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination thereof.
See regulations for further requirements.
Licensed Counselor or Marriage Family Therapist
A licensed counselor or marriage and family therapists/client relationship must be established in accordance with Ark. Code Ann.§§ 17-80-402 & 403 and Section 12.3 & 12.4 before the delivery of services via telemedicine. A client’s completing a psychosocial history online and forwarding it to a licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology. A licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist exhibits gross negligence if he or she provides and/or recommends any form of treatment via telemedicine without first establishing a proper licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist/client relationship.
For purposes of this regulation, a proper licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist/client relationship, at a minimum requires that:
- The licensed counselor or marriage and family therapists performs an “in person” psychosocial assessment of the client adequate to establish a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, OR
- The licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist performs a face-to-face psychosocial assessment using real time audio and visual telemedicine technology that provides information at least equal to such information as would have been obtained by an in-person psychosocial assessment, OR
- The licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist knows the client and the client’s general psychosocial issues through a previously established professional relationship; AND
- Appropriate follow-up be provided or arranged, when necessary.
For the purposes of this regulation, a proper licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist/client relationship is deemed to exist in the following situations:
- When treatment is provided in consultation with, or upon referral by, another provider or treatment team who has an ongoing relationship with the client, and who has agreed to supervise the client’s treatment, including follow up care.
- On-call or cross-coverage situations arranged by the client’s treating provider or treatment team.
“Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a licensed counselor or marriage and family therapist and a client established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination thereof.
See regulations for further requirements.
Dietitians
“Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a licensed dietitian and a client established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination thereof.
Establishing a Licensed Dietitian/Client Relationship -A licensed dietitian/client relationship must be established in accordance with Ark. Code Ann. §§ 17-80-402 & 403 and Section VII before the delivery of services via telemedicine. A client’s completing a nutrition history online and forwarding it to a licensed dietitian is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology. A licensed dietitian exhibits gross negligence if he or she provides and/or recommends any form of treatment via telemedicine without first establishing a proper licensed dietitian/client relationship.
Minimum Requirements for Licensed Dietitian/Client Relationship – For purposes of this regulation, a proper licensed dietitian/client relationship, at a minimum requires that:
- The licensed dietitian performs an “in person” nutrition history of the client adequate to establish a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, OR
- The licensed dietitian performs a face to face nutrition history using real time audio and visual telemedicine technology that provides information at least equal to such information as would have been obtained by an in-person nutrition history, OR
- The licensed dietitian knows the client and the client’s general nutrition issues through a previously established professional relationship; AND
- Appropriate follow-up be provided or arranged, when necessary.
When a Licensed Dietitian/Client Relationship is Deemed to Exist- For the purposes of this regulation, a proper licensed dietitian/client relationship is deemed to exist in the following situations:
- When treatment is provided in consultation with, or upon referral by, another provider or treatment team who has an ongoing relationship with the client, and who has agreed to supervise the client’s treatment, including follow up care.
- On-call or cross-coverage situations arranged by the client’s treating provider or treatment team.
Exceptions -Recognizing a licensed dietitian’s duty to adhere to the applicable standard of care and to comply with mandatory reporting laws, the following situations are excluded from the requirement of this regulation by Ark. Code Ann. § 17-80-403(a)(2):
- Emergency situations where the life or health of the client is in danger or imminent danger.
- Simply providing information of a generic nature, not meant to be specific to an individual client.
Professional Relationship Exceptions- Under Ark. Code Ann. § l 7-80-403(c), “Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a licensed dietitian and a client established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination thereof.
See regulation for additional requirements.
SOURCE: AR Rules and Regulations, Board of Dietetics, Sec. 007.45.24-001, (Accessed Feb. 2026).
APRN
The APRN shall establish a proper APRN/patient relationship prior to providing any patient care. A proper APRN/patient relationship, at a minimum requires that:
- The APRN perform a history and an “in person” physical examination of the patient adequate to establish a diagnosis and identify underlying conditions and/or contraindications to the treatment recommended/provided;
- The APRN perform a face-to-face examination using real-time audio or visual telemedicine technology that provides information at least equal to such information as would have been obtained by an in-person examination; AND
- Appropriate follow-up be provided or arranged, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals.
A proper APRN/patient relationship is also deemed to exist in the following situations:
- When treatment is provided in consultation with, or upon referral by another health care provider who has an ongoing relationship with the patient, and who has agreed to supervise the patient‘s treatment, including follow-up care and the use of any prescribed medications.
- On-call or cross-coverage situations arranged by the patient‘s health care provider.
- Emergency situations where the life or health of the patient is in danger or imminent danger.
- Providing information of a generic nature not meant to be specific to an individual.
- Providing prescriptions written or medications issued for use in expedited heterosexual partner therapy for the sexually transmitted diseases of gonorrhea and/or chlamydia.
- Administration of vaccines containing tetanus toxoid (e.g., DTaP, DTP, DT, Tdap, TD, or TT) or inactive influenza vaccines.
An APRN/patient relationship shall be established in accordance with Chapter 4, Section XIII before the delivery of services via telemedicine. A patient completing a medical history online and forwarding it to an APRN is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology.
An APRN using telemedicine may NOT issue a prescription for any controlled substances defined as any scheduled medication under schedules III through V and only hydrocodone combination products which were reclassified from Schedule III to Schedule II as of October 6, 2014 unless the APRN has seen the patient for an in-person exam or unless a relationship exists through consultation or referral; or on-call or cross-coverage situations.
SOURCE: Rule 007.34.22-003, Sec XV (067 00 CARR 004) (Accessed Feb. 2026).
Physical Therapy
“Professional relationship” means at a minimum a relationship established between a licensee and a patient when:
- The licensee has previously conducted an in-person examination of the patient and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals;
- The licensee personally knows the patient and the patient’s relevant health status through an ongoing personal or professional relationship and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals;
- The treatment is provided by a licensee in consultation with, or upon referral by, another healthcare professional who has an ongoing professional relationship with the patient and who has agreed to supervise the patient’s treatment, including follow-up care;
- An on-call or cross-coverage arrangement exists with the patient’s regular treating healthcare professional or another healthcare professional who has established a professional relationship with the patient;
- A relationship exists in other circumstances as defined by rule of the Arkansas State Medical Board for healthcare professionals under its jurisdiction and their patients; or
- The licensee has access to a patient’s personal health record maintained by a licensee and uses any technology deemed appropriate by the licensee, including the telephone, with a patient located in Arkansas to diagnose and treat the patient.
A licensee at a distant site shall not utilize telehealth with respect to a patient located in Arkansas unless a professional relationship exists between the licensee and the patient or the licensee otherwise meets the requirements of a professional relationship as defined in Section 1.(5) of this rule.
The existence of a professional relationship is not required in the following circumstances: (A) Emergency situations where the life or health of the patient is in danger or imminent danger; or(B) Simply providing information of a generic nature, not meant to be specific to an individual patient.
“Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a licensee and a patient established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination thereof.
SOURCE: Rule 007.33.22-017. (Accessed Feb. 2026).
Psychology
A psychologist/psychological examiner exhibits gross negligence if he provides and/or recommends any form of treatment/service, without first establishing a proper psychologist/psychological examiner-patient/client relationship.
For purposes of this rule, a proper psychologist/psychological examiner- patient/client relationship, at a minimum requires that:
- The psychologist/psychological examiner performs a history and an “in person” interview of the patient/client adequate to establish a diagnosis and identify underlying conditions and/or contraindications to the treatment/service recommended/provided, OR
- The psychologist/psychological examiner has access to a patient/client’s personal health record, as defined by A.C.A. §17-80-401 et seq., maintained by a psychologist/psychological examiner and uses any technology deemed appropriate by the psychologist/psychological examiner, including the telephone, with a patient/client located in Arkansas to diagnose or treat the patient/client; OR
- The psychologist/psychological examiner personally knows the patient/client and the patient/client’s general health status through an “ongoing” personal or professional relationship;
For the purposes of this rule, a proper psychologist/psychological examiner-patient/client relationship is deemed to exist in the following situations:
- When treatment/service is provided in consultation with, or upon referral by, another provider who has an ongoing relationship with the patient/client, and who has agreed to supervise the patient/client’s treatment/service, including follow up care.
- On-call or cross-coverage situations arranged by the patient/client’s treating psychologist/psychological examiner.
Exceptions — Recognizing a psychologist/psychological examiner’s duty to adhere to the applicable standard of care, the following situations are hereby excluded from the requirement of this rule:
- Emergency situations where the life or health of the patient/client is in danger or imminent danger.
- Simply providing information of a generic nature not meant to be specific to an individual patient/client.
A Patient/client/Provider relationship must be established in accordance with Rule 19.1 before the delivery of services via telepsychology. Provider is defined as a person licensed by the Arkansas Psychology Board who has documented training in telepsychology. A patient/client completing a history online and forwarding it to a Provider is not sufficient to establish the relationship, nor does it qualify as store-and-forward technology.
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
“Professional relationship” means at a minimum a relationship established between a licensee and a patient when:
- The licensee has previously conducted an in-person examination of the patient and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at medically necessary intervals;
- The licensee personally knows the patient and the patient’s relevant health status through an ongoing personal or professional relationship and is available to provide appropriate follow-up care, when necessary, at therapeutically necessary intervals;
- The treatment is provided by a licensee in consultation with, or upon referral by, another healthcare professional who has an ongoing professional relationship with the patient and who has agreed to supervise the patient’s treatment, including follow-up care;
- An on-call or cross-coverage arrangement exists with the patient’s regular treating healthcare professional or another healthcare professional who has established a professional relationship with the patient;
- A relationship established under rules of the Arkansas State Medical Board may be utilized for telepractice certification; or
- The licensee has access to a patient’s personal health record maintained by a healthcare professional and uses any technology deemed appropriate by the licensee, including the telephone, with a patient located in Arkansas to diagnose and treat the patient. For purposes of this subchapter, a health record may be created with the use of telepractice and consists of relevant clinical information required to treat a patient, and is reviewed by the licensee who meets the same standard of care for a telepractice visit as an in-person visit;
“Professional relationship” does not include a relationship between a licensee and a patient established only by the following:
- An internet questionnaire;
- An email message;
- Patient-generated medical history;
- Text messaging;
- A facsimile machine; or
- Any combination of means listed in subdivisions (c)(1)-(5) of this section.
Veterinary
Only a licensed veterinarian shall provide veterinary telemedicine to an animal patient located in this state.
In an emergency or urgent situation, a licensed veterinarian may provide veterinary telemedicine without previously establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship if the licensed veterinarian establishes a veterinarian-client-patient relationship within:
- Seven (7) calendar days after providing the veterinary telemedicine services for a small animal; or
- Twenty-one (21) calendar days after providing the veterinary telemedicine services for a large animal.
SOURCE: AR Code Sec. 17-101-102, (Accessed Feb. 2026).
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