Online Medical Clinic Virtuwell Now Available In Virginia

Internet users in Virginia afflicted with the flu — or about 50 other common ailments — can now get drug prescriptions online, thanks to a new service.

Virtuwell, an online clinic operated by Minnesota-based health-care provider HealthPartners, lets nurse practitioners prescribe some medications online to patients with conditions such as colds, allergies and some sexually transmitted diseases. Last week, Virtuwell made its service available to people living, working or traveling in Virginia. It also operates in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Michigan.

On Virtuwell, users pay a flat fee of $45 per consultation — or less, if their insurance covers . . .