Telehealth Resources

Telemedicine Services to Patients

Telehealth Overview

A health care practitioner may provide telehealth services to a patient located in this state if the services are consistent with the health care practitioner's scope of practice in this state, applicable professional practice standards in this state, and requirements and limitations of federal law and law of this state. A practitioner-patient relationship may be established through telehealth, but may not be established through email, instant messaging, text messaging, or faxes. More information on telehealth for health providers is available on our Telehealth Webpage.

Many health care professions in Washington have statutory authority to offer services using telehealth technologies. The Department of Health has adopted a guidance document identifying these professions: Healthcare Professions with Authority to Provide Telehealth Services (PDF). Individual professions may have more specific guidance:

• Board of Hearing and Speech Telepractice Guidelines (PDF)
• Board of Optometry Appropriate Use of Telehealth Guidelines (PDF)
• Examining Board of Psychology Telepsychology Guidelines (PDF)

Telemedicine Training Requirements

Beginning January 1, 2021, health care professionals who are offering telemedicine services to patients, are required to complete telemedicine training. See the Department of Health policy statement with additional information related to this requirement (PDF) for more information. Allopathic physicians (MDs) and osteopathic physicians are exempt from this requirement.

To learn more about the different training options available and access additional resources, see the Washington State Telehealth Collaborative Training page. To complete the free and publicly available telemedicine training, select enroll and create a Canvas account to access the Washington State Medical Professional TelemedicineTraining. Below are additional resources related to telehealth. You may also find additional resources by visiting the Chiropractic Quality Assurance Commission, the Washington State Board of Nursing, and the Washington Medical Commission websites.

Substitute House Bill 1196

Substitute House Bill 1196 was passed during the 2021 legislative session and requires the following regarding the practice of telemedicine:

• Beginning July 25^th, 2021, providers who bill a patient or the patient's health plan for audio-only telemedicine services must receive patient consent for the billing prior to rendering the service. The patient consent requirement is applicable to PEBB/SEBB plans, private health plans, behavioral health administrative services organizations and managed care organizations contracted with the Health Care Authority, as well as Medicaid managed care plans contracted with the Health Care Authority.
• Beginning, January 1^st, 2023, the provider must have an established relationship with a patient for an audio-only telemedicine service to be compensated at the same rate as an in-person visit. An established relationship is defined as a prior in-person visit within the last year with the provider, another provider at the same clinic, or with the referring provider.

Substitute Senate Bill 5423

During the 2021 Legislative Session, the legislature passed Substitute Senate Bill 5423. This bill allows Washington state Allopathic Physicians (MDs) and Osteopathic Physicians (DOs) to consult with practitioners licensed in another state, via telemedicine, in order to diagnose and treat a Washington provider's established patient.

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5481

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 5481 (PDF) passed in the 2024 legislative session. ESSB 5481 establishes uniform standards for providing telehealth services to patients in Washington state, outlines the condition in which telehealth services are authorized, and which regulated professionals may provide services via telehealth. The bill also impacts the Washington State Telehealth Collaborative. The online version of the RCW will be updated in early fall to include ESSB 5481 and other newly passed legislation.

Senate Bill 5821

Senate Bill (SB) 5821 passed in the 2024 legislative session. SB 5821 establishes uniform standards for providing audio-only telehealth services to patients in Washington state, outlines the condition in which telehealth services are authorized, and which regulated professionals may provide services via telehealth. It also changes the requirement to have an in-person or real-time interactive appointment (utilizing video and audio) every two years to three years. The online version of the RCW will be updated in early fall to include SB 5821 and other newly passed legislation.

For more questions, please contact the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, the Washington Medical Commission, or the program manager for your profession.