Check care
Is online or in-person care a better fit?
Start with what the assessment needs and what you can manage. Ask about travel, a private place to talk, and how to share your records.
Does online care have fewer requirements?
For a Texas service, delivering care online does not lower the standard of proper care required when it is provided in person.
As of September 26, 2026.
Texas · The same requirements for careAsk what the clinician can assess remotely and what would need an in-person visit.
What if an examination or test is needed?
According to the Federation of State Medical Boards, the clinician must arrange any necessary tests. If an examination cannot be done remotely, the clinician must refer the patient for it.
As of September 17, 2026.
Medical boards · Tests and referralsThe state medical boards’ national group offers this guidance on how to provide care. The advice itself is not a law that doctors must follow.
As of September 17, 2026.
Medical boards · Advice for careAsk where that would happen, who sends the results, and what it would cost.
Can I just pick a medicine from a menu?
The medical boards’ advice says letting a patient choose a treatment from a menu, without a proper assessment, does not meet the requirements for care.
As of September 26, 2026.
Medical boards · Assessment before treatmentThat guidance also calls for a chance for patients to put further questions to their clinician.
As of September 26, 2026.
Medical boards · A chance to ask questionsWhat practical questions help me decide?
Ask how to reach the care team after the visit. Find out the plan for a lost connection or for a concern that requires an examination.
For an in-person visit, ask who performs the assessment and who explains the medicine. Compare the answers, not just the format.