As discussed in our previous Updates ( here and here), the State Medical Board of Ohio proposed a new rule in April 2016 outlining the standards for a physician's prescribing of drugs to patients based only upon a remote encounter. The proposed rules were filed with the Common Sense Initiative Office on July 5, 2016, and interested parties were invited to submit comments. The Medical Board considered the comments at its September 14, 2016 meeting and approved minor amendments to the proposed language originally filed to reflect comments received. Comments on the latest drafts of Rule 4731-11-01 and Rule 4731-11-09 were due to the Common Sense Initiative Office and the Medical Board on September 26, 2016.

The new rule would replace the current Rule 4731-11-09, which requires a physician to have personally and physically examined a patient before prescribing any drug to the patient, except in specific situations.

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