Check the people behind the care.

Where can a care conversation happen?

An in-person visit puts the conversation in one room. With telehealth, that care visit takes place through video, a phone call or messages.

Ask who reviews your health, what the visit includes, and how an exam or tests would be arranged.

The national group for boards overseeing doctors is the Federation of State Medical Boards. The group’s guidance says care online must meet the standard expected during a visit in person.

That includes arranging tests or an exam in person when needed, and letting you ask questions.

This is guidance for boards; each state sets the rules that apply.

Check permission where you will be.

To treat you, the doctor needs permission from whichever state you are located in during the visit. US health department guidance on this was checked on September 26, 2026.

Ask whether the health professional has a licence or other legal permission to treat you in that state.

State medical boards publish records of doctors’ licences, including any public penalties or restrictions they have imposed.

Finding no public penalty in a record does not establish how good a doctor’s care is.

Check who makes and sends the medicine.

Ask for the pharmacy’s exact name; the name of the care service may not tell you who prepared the drug.

Pharmacies are licensed through a separate state board of pharmacy.

In most states, a pharmacy based elsewhere must also have permission in the patient’s state, as of September 26, 2026.

An FDA page links to searches of state pharmacy licence records.

“FDA registered” means the place that makes drugs is recorded with FDA. That listing does not show FDA approval of the place or its medicine. This rule was checked on September 26, 2026.