Online Prescribing

Physicians utilizing telemedicine shall establish a proper physician-patient relationship by:

• verifying the identity of the individual requesting treatment. Appropriate contact and identifying information shall be made part of the medical record;
• conducting an appropriate examination. The examination does not require an in-person visit if the technology is sufficient to provide the physician the pertinent clinical information reasonably necessary to practice at an acceptable level of skill and safety;
• establishing a diagnoses through the use of accepted medical practices e.g., history, mental status, appropriate diagnostic and laboratory testing;
• discussing the diagnoses and risks and benefits of various treatment options;
• insuring the availability for appropriate follow-up care; and
• creating and/or maintaining a medical record

Telemedicine shall not be utilized by a physician with respect to any individual located in this state in the absence of a physician-patient relationship.

The practice of medicine by telemedicine, including the issuance of any prescription via electronic means shall be held to the same prevailing and usually accepted standards of medical practice as those in traditional (face-to-face) settings. An online, electronic or written mail message does not satisfy the standards of appropriate care.

A physician using telemedicine may be at any location at the time the services are provided. A patient receiving medical services by telemedicine may be in any location at the time that the services are received.

SOURCE: LA Admin. Code 46: XLV.7503-05. p. 249-250 (Accessed Feb. 2026).

No physician shall utilize telemedicine:

1. for the treatment of non-cancer related chronic or intractable pain, as set forth in §§6915-6923 of the board’s rules;
2. for the treatment of obesity, as set forth in §§6901-6913 of the board’s rules;
3. to authorize or order the prescription, dispensation or administration of any controlled substance unless;
   1. the physician has had at least one in-person visit with the patient within the past year; provided, however, the requirement for an in-person visit shall not apply to a physician who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine in LA and who practices telemedicine upon any patient being treated at a healthcare facility that is required to be licensed pursuant to the laws of LA and which holds a current registration with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration;
   2. the prescription is issued for a legitimate medical purpose;
   3. the prescription is in conformity with the standard of care applicable to an in-person visit; and
   4. the prescription is permitted by and in conformity with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

The board may grant an exception to the limitations of §7513.C in an individual case that is supported by a physician’s written application stating how and why he or she proposes to deviate from §7513.C. If an exception is granted by the board it shall be stated in writing and specify the manner and extent to which the physician shall be authorized to depart from §7513.C.

SOURCE: LA Admin. Code 46: XLV.7513. p. 251 (Accessed Feb. 2026).

All of the following restrictions and authorizations apply to a physician who holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine from the board and who utilizes telehealth for any patient who is being treated at a healthcare facility that is required to be licensed pursuant to the laws of this state and which holds a current registration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration:

• The physician shall use the same standard of care as if the healthcare services were provided in person.
• The physician may prescribe any controlled dangerous substance without necessity of conducting an appropriate in-person patient history or physical examination of the patient as otherwise would be required by R.S. 40:1223.4.
• The physician shall not be subject to any regulatory prohibition or restriction on the utilization of telehealth, including prohibitions or restrictions related to prescribing controlled dangerous substances, which are in any manner more restrictive than the prohibitions and restrictions that are otherwise applicable to the entire practice of medicine.

The physician may prescribe any controlled dangerous substance without necessity of conducting an appropriate in-person patient history or physical examination of the patient as otherwise would be required by R.S. 40:1223.4.

The physician shall not be subject to any regulatory prohibition or restriction on the utilization of telehealth, including prohibitions or restrictions related to prescribing controlled dangerous substances, which are in any manner more restrictive than the prohibitions and restrictions that are otherwise applicable to the entire practice of medicine.

SOURCE: LA Statute Sec. 37:1271.1, (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (6) of this Subsection, a healthcare provider shall not be required to conduct an in-person patient history or physical examination of the patient before engaging in a telehealth encounter but shall provide a referral to a healthcare provider in this state or arrange for follow-up care in this state as necessary.

Except as authorized by R.S. 37:1271.1 or otherwise by rule promulgated by a state agency or professional or occupational licensing board or commission, no healthcare provider shall prescribe any controlled dangerous substance prior to conducting an appropriate in-person patient history or physical examination of the patient as determined by the appropriate state agency or professional or occupational licensing board or commission.

A healthcare provider may use interactive audio without the requirement of video if, after access and review of the patient’s medical records, the healthcare provider determines that he is able to meet the same standard of care as if the healthcare services were provided in person.

Creation of a record on each patient. The record shall be made available, upon request, to the state agency or professional or occupational licensing board or commission that regulates the practice of the healthcare provider.

SOURCE: LA Revised Statute 40:1223.4 (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Except as authorized by R.S. 37:1271.1 [see above] or otherwise by rule promulgated by the board, no physician practicing telemedicine pursuant to this Subsection shall prescribe any controlled dangerous substance prior to conducting an appropriate in-person patient history or physical examination of the patient as determined by the board.

SOURCE: LA Revised Statutes 37:1271(B)(3). (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Any physician licensed or permitted by the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, physician assistant when acting in accordance with his respective clinical practice guidelines, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, other nurse practitioner who acts in accordance with a collaborative practice agreement and receives verbal approval for executing the certificate from his collaborating physician, or psychologist may execute an emergency certificate only after an actual examination of a person alleged to have a mental illness or be suffering from a substance-related or addictive disorder who is determined to be in need of immediate care and treatment in a treatment facility because the examining physician, physician assistant when acting in accordance with his respective clinical practice guidelines, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, other nurse practitioner who acts in accordance with a collaborative practice agreement and receives verbal approval for executing the certificate from his collaborating physician, or psychologist determines the person to be dangerous to self or others or to be gravely disabled. The actual examination of the person by a psychiatrist, psychologist, medical psychologist, or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner may be conducted by telehealth utilizing video conferencing technology, provided that a licensed healthcare professional who can adequately and accurately assist with obtaining any necessary information including but not limited to the information listed in Paragraph (4) of this Subsection shall be in the examination room with the patient at the time of the video conference. A patient examined in such a manner shall be medically cleared prior to admission to a mental health treatment facility. Failure to conduct an examination prior to the execution of the certificate will be evidence of gross negligence.

SOURCE: LA Revised Statute 28:53 as amended by HB 137 (2025 Session), (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Teledentistry

Controlled substances may not be prescribed via teledentistry except in emergency situations where the dentist determines:

• That immediate administration of the controlled substance is necessary for proper treatment of the intended ultimate user, and
• That no appropriate alternate treatment is available, including administration of a drug that is not a controlled substance.

In an emergency situation the prescription for a controlled substance must be limited to the amount adequate to treat the patient during the emergency period.

SOURCE: LA Admin. Code LAC 46:XXXIII.203 (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Board of Optometry

Evaluation, treatment, and consultation recommendations made in an optometric telemedicine setting, including issuing a prescription via electronic means, shall be held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those in traditional in-person clinical settings.

SOURCE: LA Admin Code LAC 46:LI.509, (Accessed Feb. 2026).

Coroner

The coroner or deputy coroner, who is a physician, preferably a psychiatrist, may conduct an examination and execute an emergency certificate, as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, by telehealth under certain circumstances (see statute).

SOURCE: LA Revised Statute 28:53 as amended by HB 118 (2025 Session), (Accessed Feb. 2026).