Telehealth providers in Louisiana

Verified telehealth providers serving Louisiana

Telehealth prescribing rules in Louisiana

La. R.S. 37:1271 requires a license to practice medicine or telemedicine in Louisiana to treat Louisiana patients; Louisiana is one of the few states that issues a limited telemedicine license to physicians licensed elsewhere, in addition to full licensure. A physician practicing telemedicine must use the same standard of care as in person and, if the physician holds an unrestricted Louisiana license, is not required to conduct an in-person history or exam before a telemedicine encounter; controlled dangerous substances require an appropriate in-person history or exam first except as the statute or Board rules allow. The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners' telemedicine rules (Louisiana Administrative Code Title 46, Part XLV, chapter 75, beginning at section 7501) require a physician-patient relationship consisting of patient verification, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment plan, and follow-up, with documentation to the same standard as in-person care. Section 7503 defines telemedicine as interaction by simultaneous two-way video and audio (audio-only is allowed if the physician can meet the in-person standard of care after reviewing the records), says an email between physician and patient is not telemedicine, and section 7505 says an online, electronic, or written mail message does not satisfy the standard of care, so an asynchronous-only intake is not a basis for a Louisiana prescription. The limited license for physicians licensed elsewhere is the telemedicine permit in section 408 of the Board's rules; a permit holder may not open an office, meet patients, or take patient calls in Louisiana (section 7513.D). Section 7513.C.2 still bars telemedicine for obesity treatment, but Act 345 of 2026 (La. R.S. 40:1223.4(D), effective May 22, 2026) bars the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Nursing from adopting or enforcing any rule that prohibits using telehealth to evaluate, diagnose, or treat obesity or provide weight management, provided the provider conducts a synchronous interaction with the patient and follows the standard of care. [2] [3] [4] [10] [11]

Compounded GLP-1 access in Louisiana

In spring 2023, while semaglutide was still in shortage, the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy told in-state compounders to stop compounding semaglutide made from unapproved salt forms (such as semaglutide sodium or acetate) and told out-of-state compounders not to ship such products into Louisiana; the Board's director clarified that compounding with the approved base form was not banned at the time. Since the FDA shortage allowances ended in 2025, compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are limited to documented patient-specific needs in Louisiana as elsewhere. Telehealth weight management programs serving Louisiana patients must use a live, synchronous interaction under Act 345 of 2026. [1] [11] [12] [14]

Research use only sellers in Louisiana

Only Louisiana-permitted pharmacies, including nonresident pharmacies permitted under La. R.S. 37:1232, may dispense prescription drugs to Louisiana patients. The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy has described semaglutide salt forms sold as "research use only" as not intended for human use, and "research use only" peptides sold for injection are unapproved new drugs under federal law. [5] [12] [15]