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Review
. 2020 Sep;15(3):409-416.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2020.06.004. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Regulatory, Legal, and Ethical Considerations of Telemedicine

Barry G Fields  1
Affiliations
Review

Regulatory, Legal, and Ethical Considerations of Telemedicine

Barry G Fields. Sleep Med Clin. 2020 Sep.

Abstract

Sleep telemedicine practitioners must ensure their practice complies with all applicable institutional, state, and federal regulations. Providers must be licensed in any state in which they provide care, have undergone credentialing and privileging procedures at outside facilities, and avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest while providing that care. Internet-based prescribing remains limited to certain circumstances. Whether or not a malpractice insurance policy covers telemedicine depends on the insurer, especially if interstate care is provided. All telemedicine programs must protect patient health information. Similarly, bioethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice apply to both in-person and telemedicine-based care.

Keywords: Informed consent; Interstate licensure compact; Protected health information; Ryan Haight act; Stark law; Telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The author has nothing to disclose.

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