§ 3052. Definitions

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Board” means the Board of Medical Practice.

(2) “Health care professional” means an individual who holds a valid license, certificate, or registration to provide health care services in any other U.S. jurisdiction in a health care profession listed in section 3051 of this chapter.

(3) “Health care services” means services for the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, cure, or relief of a health condition, illness, injury, or disease.

(4) “In good standing” means that a health care professional holds an active license, certificate, or registration from another U.S. jurisdiction; the health care professional is not subject to a disciplinary order that conditions, suspends, or otherwise restricts the professional’s practice in any other U.S. jurisdiction; and the health care professional is not affirmatively barred from practice in Vermont for any reason, including reasons of fraud or abuse, patient care, or public safety.

(5) “Mandatory disclosure” means the information that the health care professional must disclose to the patient at the initial telehealth visit or consultation, as determined by the relevant regulatory body by rule.

(6) “Office” means the Office of Professional Regulation.

(7) “Store and forward” means an asynchronous transmission of medical information, such as one or more video clips, audio clips, still images, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging scans, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, or laboratory results, sent over a secure connection that complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191 to be reviewed at a later date by a health care provider at a distant site who is trained in the relevant specialty. In store and forward, the health care provider at the distant site reviews the medical information without the patient present in real time and communicates a care plan or treatment recommendation back to the patient or referring provider, or both.

(8) “Telehealth” means health care services delivered by telemedicine, store and forward, or audio-only telephone.

(9) “Telemedicine” means the delivery of health care services, such as diagnosis, consultation, or treatment, through the use of live interactive audio and video over a secure connection that complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-191. (Added 2021, No. 107 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. July 1, 2023.)