Alabama § 34-22-82 - Telemedicine - Protocols; Privacy Practices.

§ 34-22-82. Telemedicine - Protocols; Privacy Practices.

(a) A provider who uses telemedicine in his or her practice shall adopt protocols to prevent fraud and abuse through the use of telemedicine.

(b)(1) Privacy practices.

a. A provider that communicates with patients by electronic communications other than telephone or facsimile shall provide patients with written notification of the provider’s privacy practices before evaluation or treatment.

b. The notice of privacy practices shall include language that is consistent with federal standards under 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164 relating to privacy of individually identifiable health information.

c. A provider shall make a good faith effort to obtain the patient’s written acknowledgment of the notice.

(2) Limitations of telemedicine. A provider who uses telemedicine services, before providing services, shall give each patient notice regarding telemedicine services, including the risks and benefits of being treated via telemedicine, and how to receive follow-up care or assistance in the event of an adverse reaction to the treatment or in the event of an inability to communicate as a result of a technological or equipment failure. A signed and dated notice, including an electronic acknowledgement by the patient, establishes a presumption of notice.

(3) Necessity of in-person evaluation. When, for whatever reason, the telemedicine modality in use for a particular patient encounter is unable to provide all pertinent clinical information that a health care provider exercising ordinary skill and care would deem reasonably necessary for the practice of optometry at an acceptable level of safety and quality in the context of that particular encounter, then the distant site provider shall make this known to the patient and advise and counsel the patient regarding the need for the patient to obtain an additional in-person evaluation reasonably able to meet the patient’s needs.