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Have you ever been on vacation, enjoying your getaway, when you suddenly realize you forgot your prescription medication at home?
Or what about a time when you’ve been at home, but waited too long to get your new prescription and you needed a last minute refill?
It’s happened to many of us, but luckily today there are ways to get a prescription refilled quickly even when you are traveling away from home or down to your very last pill.
Telemedicine can make it easier to receive medical help. Video doctor visits allow board-certified physicians to communicate with patients anywhere and anytime.
In some cases, physicians can diagnose and even write prescriptions.
What do I do if I need a prescription, but can’t see my regular doctor?
Before being prescribed any type of medication, some states have laws requiring that patients have a face-to-face appointment first. These regulations differ for each state.
Telemedicine in general allows doctors to communicate electronically with patients and that communication can occur via video chat on a desktop or an app on a mobile device. During a video visit with a doctor, patients can ask health questions, get a diagnosis, and receive prescriptions if applicable in their state.
If the doctor you’re seeing through an online visit determines that a prescription is needed, and is allowed to write one, he or she will be able to send your information and prescription over to your local pharmacy.
What can be treated via telemedicine or online doctor’s visits?
Common sickness such as colds, flu, allergies, sinus infections, eye infections, ear infections, bronchitis, rashes and more can be diagnosed online.
What are my options?
When selecting a telemedicine platform, you’ll be faced with several options. LiveHealth Online makes it simple to get the medical help you need in 48 states and is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Board-certified physicians are available to speak face-to-face via web cam on your computer, tablet or smartphone. After a consultation, LiveHealth Online doctors have the ability to write prescriptions if they see fit and if allowed in your state.
So, if you’re traveling out of town for a family vacation and realize you left a prescription like your birth control or insulin at home, LiveHealth Online may be a convenient option to talk to a physician and refill your prescription when you need it.
Why are prescriptions after online visits not available in some states?
Each state has its own rules and regulations when it comes to a physician’s ability to see patients electronically and to prescribe medication after an online visit. . LiveHealth Online doctor is available in most states and in many cases, medicine can be prescribed after an online visit.
The prescribing of a medication depends on a physician’s judgment.
Click here to learn more about whether your state allows online visits and prescribing. Physicians using LiveHealth Online are not able to prescribe controlled substances or lifestyle drugs.
How much does a prescription cost?
Prescriptions are not included in the cost of the visit and the cost depends on the medicine prescribed as well as your insurance coverage. The cost of an online visit using LiveHealth Online is $49 or less depending on your health plan.
Prescriptions after an online visit can allow you to get the medicine you need when it is convenient for you. LiveHealth Online also allows patients to add minor dependents to their account, making it faster for loved ones to return to their healthy selves.
To try LiveHealth Online, visit www.livehealthonline.com and sign up.
Reviewed August 9, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
This post was sponsored by: LiveHealth® Online
Read more in Health Technology Insider1) Internet Prescribing Language: State-by-State Overview. Federation of State Medical Boards. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
https://www.fsmb.org/Media/Default/PDF/Advocacy/InternetPrescribinglaw.pdf
2) Prescribing and Telemedicine: The “Physical” Exam. Tech Health Perspectives. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
http://www.techhealthperspectives.com/2015/02/12/prescribing-telemedicine-comes-down-to-the-physical-exam/
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