Florida

Last updated 02/27/2025

Consent Requirements

No Reference Found

Last updated 02/27/2025

Cross State Licensing

A health care professional not licensed in this state may provide health care services to a patient located in this state using telehealth if the health care professional registers with the applicable board, or the department if there is no board, and provides health care services within the applicable scope of practice established by Florida law or rule.

The board, or the department if there is no board, shall register a health care professional not licensed in this state as a telehealth provider if the health care professional:   See law for specific provider requirements.

A provider registered under this subsection shall maintain professional liability coverage or financial responsibility, that includes coverage or financial responsibility for telehealth services provided to patients not located in the provider’s home state, in an amount equal to or greater than the requirements for a licensed practitioner under s. 456.048, s. 458.320, or s. 459.0085, as applicable.

A health care professional registered under this subsection may not open an office in this state and may not provide in-person health care services to patients located in this state.

A pharmacist registered under this subsection may only use a pharmacy permitted under chapter 465, a nonresident pharmacy registered under s. 465.0156, or a nonresident pharmacy or outsourcing facility holding an active permit pursuant to s. 465.0158 to dispense medicinal drugs to patients located in this state.

A health care professional who is not licensed to provide health care services in this state but who holds an active license to provide health care services in another state or jurisdiction, and who provides health care services using telehealth to a patient located in this state, is not subject to the registration requirement under this section if the services are provided:

• In response to an emergency medical condition as defined in s. 395.002; or
• In consultation with a health care professional licensed in this state who has ultimate authority over the diagnosis and care of the patient.

SOURCE: FL Statute 456.47, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

The out-of-state telehealth provider registration is for health care practitioners licensed outside of Florida ONLY. Florida licensees can already provide telehealth services to patients in Florida that they can treat in person.

Health care practitioners with an out-of-state license or certification that falls under section 456.47(1)(b), F.S, qualify for an out-of-state telehealth provider registration number when they meet the following requirements:  See webpage for requirements.

SOURCE:   Florida Board of Medicine. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

FAQs related to out-of-state telehealth providers can be found on the FL Health Source website.

Veterinary Practice

The board has jurisdiction over a veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth, regardless of where the veterinarian’s physical office is located. The practice of veterinary medicine is deemed to occur when the veterinarian, the patient, or both are located within this state at the time the veterinarian practices veterinary telehealth.

SOURCE: FL Statute 474.2021, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Last updated 02/27/2025

Definitions

“Telehealth” means the use of synchronous or asynchronous telecommunications technology by a telehealth provider to provide health care services, including, but not limited to, assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and monitoring of a patient; transfer of medical data; patient and professional health-related education; public health services; and health administration. The term does not include e-mail messages or facsimile transmissions.

SOURCE: FL Statute 456.47, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Substance Abuse Services

“Telehealth” as defined in Section 456.47(1)(a), F.S.  (see above).

SOURCE: FL Admin Code 65D-30.002, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Children’s Medical Services

“Telemedicine” means “the use of telecommunication and information technology to provide clinical care to individuals at a distance and to transmit the information needed to provide that care.

SOURCE: FL Admin Code 64C-8.001. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Professional Counselor Licensure Compact

“Telehealth” means the application of telecommunication technology to deliver professional counseling services remotely to assess, diagnose, and treat behavioral health conditions.

SOURCE: FL Statute 491.017 (Article II (25)). (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Veterinary Practice

“Veterinary telehealth” means the use of synchronous or asynchronous telecommunications technology by a telehealth provider to provide health care services, including, but not limited to, assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and monitoring of a patient; transfer of medical data; patient and professional health-related education; public health services; and health administration.

SOURCE: FL Statute 474.202, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Last updated 02/27/2025

Licensure Compacts

Member of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Interstate Compact.

SOURCE: ASLP Compact, Compact Map, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Member of the Counseling Compact.

SOURCE: Counseling Compact Map. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Member of Interstate Medical Licensure Compact

SOURCE: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, Compact Map, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Member of the Nurses Licensure Compact.

SOURCE: Current NLC States & Status. Nurse Licensure Compact. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact.

SOURCE:  PSYPACt, Map, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

* See Compact websites for implementation and license issuing status and other related requirements.

Last updated 02/27/2025

Miscellaneous

Mental health and substance abuse facilities are authorized to release individuals subject to involuntary examination upon documented approval of a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. The release may be approved through telehealth.

SOURCE: FL Statute 394.463(2)(f) (Accessed Feb. 2025).

An advertisement of dental services provided through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47(1) must include a disclaimer that reads, in a clearly legible font and size, “An in-person examination with a dentist licensed under chapter 466, Florida Statutes, is recommended before beginning telehealth treatment in order to prevent injury or harm” for each of the following services, if advertised.

SOURCE: FL Statute Sec. 466.019, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Last updated 02/27/2025

Online Prescribing

A telehealth provider may use telehealth to perform a patient evaluation. If a telehealth provider conducts a patient evaluation sufficient to diagnose and treat the patient, the telehealth provider is not required to research a patient’s medical history or conduct a physical examination of the patient before using telehealth to provide health care services to the patient.

A telehealth provider may not use telehealth to prescribe a controlled substance listed in Schedule II of s. 893.03 unless the controlled substance is prescribed for the following:

1. The treatment of a psychiatric disorder;
2. Inpatient treatment at a hospital licensed under chapter 395;
3. The treatment of a patient receiving hospice services as defined in s. 400.601; or
4. The treatment of a resident of a nursing home facility as defined in s. 400.021.

SOURCE: FL Statute 456.47. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Effective once certain contingencies are met:

Only a physician may perform or induce a termination of pregnancy. A physician may not use telehealth as defined in s. 456.47 to perform an abortion, including, but not limited to, medical abortions. Any medications intended for use in a medical abortion must be dispensed in person by a physician and may not be dispensed through the United States Postal Service or by any other courier or shipping service.

SOURCE: FL Statute Sec. 390.0111, (see notes section for contingencies) (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Medical Marijuana

A qualified physician may issue a physician certification only if the qualified physician:

• Conducted an examination of the patient and a full assessment of the medical history of the patient. Before issuing an initial certification to a patient, the qualified physician must conduct an in-person physical examination of the patient. For certification renewals, a qualified physician who has issued a certification to a patient after conducting an in-person physical examination may conduct subsequent examinations of that patient through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term “in-person physical examination” means an examination conducted by a qualified physician while the physician is physically present in the same room as the patient.  (see statute for more requirements).

A qualified physician must evaluate an existing qualified patient at least once every 30 weeks before issuing a new physician certification. A qualified physician who has issued a certification to the patient after conducting an in-person physical examination as defined in subparagraph (a)1. may conduct the evaluation through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47. A physician must:

• Determine if the patient still meets the requirements to be issued a physician certification under paragraph (a).
• Identify and document in the qualified patient’s medical records whether the qualified patient experienced either of the following related to the medical use of marijuana:
  • An adverse drug interaction with any prescription or nonprescription medication; or
  • A reduction in the use of, or dependence on, other types of controlled substances as defined in s. 893.02.
• Submit a report with the findings required pursuant to subparagraph 2. to the department. The department shall submit such reports to the Consortium for Medical Marijuana Clinical Outcomes Research established pursuant to s. 1004.4351.

SOURCE: FL Statute Sec. 381.986, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Dental

An advertisement of dental services provided through telehealth as defined in s. 456.47(1) must include a disclaimer that reads, in a clearly legible font and size, “An in-person examination with a dentist licensed under chapter 466, Florida Statutes, is recommended before beginning telehealth treatment in order to prevent injury or harm” for each of the following services, if advertised:

• The taking of an impression or the digital scanning of the human tooth, teeth, or jaws, directly or indirectly and by any means or method.
• Furnishing, supplying, constructing, reproducing, or repairing any prosthetic denture, bridge, or appliance or any other structure designed to be worn in the human mouth.
• Placing an appliance or a structure in the human mouth or adjusting or attempting to adjust the appliance or structure.
• Correcting or attempting to correct malformations of teeth or jaws

SOURCE: FL Statute Sec. 466.019, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Veterinary Practice

A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth:

• May not engage in the practice of veterinary telehealth unless it is within the context of a veterinarian/client/patient relationship;
• Shall practice in a manner consistent with his or her scope of practice and the prevailing professional standard of practice for a veterinarian who provides in-person veterinary services to patients in this state and shall employ sound, professional judgment to determine whether using veterinary telehealth is an appropriate method for delivering medical advice or treatment to the patient;
• May use veterinary telehealth to perform an initial patient evaluation to establish the veterinarian/client/patient relationship if the evaluation is conducted using synchronous, audiovisual communication. The evaluation may not be performed using audio only communications, text messaging, questionnaires, chatbots, or other similar means. If a veterinarian practicing telehealth conducts a patient evaluation sufficient to diagnose and treat the patient, the veterinarian is not required to research a patient’s medical history or conduct a physical examination of the patient before using veterinary telehealth to provide a veterinary health care service to the patient;
• If the initial patient evaluation is performed using veterinary telehealth, must provide the client with a statement containing the veterinarian’s name, license number, and contact information and the contact information for at least one physical veterinary clinic in the vicinity of the patient’s location and instructions for how to receive patient follow-up care or assistance if the veterinarian and client are unable to communicate because of a technological or equipment failure or if there is an adverse reaction to treatment, and inform the client that, if medication is prescribed, the client may obtain a prescription that may be filled at the pharmacy of his or her choice. The veterinarian shall obtain from the client a signed and dated statement indicating the client has received the required information before practicing veterinary telehealth;
• Shall prescribe all drugs and medications in accordance with all federal and state laws and the following requirements:
  • A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may order, prescribe, or make available medicinal drugs or drugs specifically approved for use in animals by the United States Food and Drug Administration, the use of which conforms to the approved labeling. Prescriptions based solely on a telehealth evaluation may be issued for up to 1 month for products labeled solely for flea and tick control and up to 14 days of treatment for other animal drugs. Prescriptions based solely on a telehealth evaluation may not be renewed without an in-person examination.
  • A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may not order, prescribe, or make available medicinal drugs or drugs as defined in s. 465.003 approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for human use or compounded antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic medications, unless the veterinarian has conducted an in-person physical examination of the animal or made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept.
  • A veterinarian may not use veterinary telehealth to prescribe a controlled substance as defined in chapter 893 unless the veterinarian has conducted an in-person physical examination of the animal or made medically appropriate and timely visits within the past year to the premises where the animal is kept.
  • A veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth may not prescribe a drug or other medication for use on a horse engaged in racing or training at a facility under the jurisdiction of the Florida Gaming Control Commission or on a horse that is a covered horse as defined in the federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 3051 et seq.;
• Shall be familiar with available veterinary resources, including emergency resources, near the patient’s location and be able to provide the client with a list of nearby veterinarians who may be able to see the patient in person upon the request of the client;
• Shall keep, maintain, and make available a summary of the patient record as provided in s. 474.2165; and
• May not use veterinary telehealth to issue an international or interstate travel certificate or a certificate of veterinary inspection.

SOURCE: FL Statute 474.2021, (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Last updated 02/27/2025

Professional Boards Standards

Health Professional Telehealth Practice Standards and Related Requirements

SOURCE: FL Statute 456.47. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Florida Department of Health Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions

SOURCE: FL Department of Health. Telehealth FAQs. (Accessed Feb. 2025).

Veterinary Telehealth Practice Standards

SOURCE: FL Statute 474.2021, (Accessed Feb. 2025).