Alabama Changes Telemedicine Regulations To Disallow Non-State Licensed Physicians From Providing Telehealth Services

A new Alabama law that went into effect on July 11, 2022, changes how the state regulates telemedicine. A key provision abolished the Special Purpose Licenses (SPL) which allowed out-of-state physicians and osteopaths without an Alabama license to provide telemedicine services to state residents. Under the new approach, a state-licensed physician can establish a physician-consumer relationship via telehealth without an in-person exam. Prescribing can include controlled substances under certain circumstances.

The law, Alabama Act 2022-302: Telehealth was signed on April 12, 2022. To provide telehealth services to state residents, a physician (in-state or . . .