The bill, S.B. No. 397, aims to establish new regulations for health professionals providing telemedicine, teledentistry, and telehealth services in Texas. It introduces several new requirements for agencies with regulatory authority over these health professionals. Specifically, it mandates the adoption of rules to standardize the formats and retention of records related to patient consent for treatment, data collection, and data sharing. Additionally, the rules must address specific consent documentation for each type of service and include provisions for consent documentation in an audio-only format when appropriate.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that health professionals must conduct an in-person examination of a patient before initiating any irreversible medical procedures. This requirement is intended to ensure patient safety and uphold a standard of care in telehealth practices. The provisions outlined in the bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 111.004 (Occupations Code 111)