Verifying the identity of a patient prior to delivering telehealth services is important to prevent a range of potential risks, including the creation of fake accounts, insurance fraud and drug abuse/diversion. A growing number of states and health plans require the verification of a patient’s identity. This verification activity has become a standard practice in the telehealth industry and is expected to continue.
Hover over each state for our summary of each state’s requirements. For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
This does not constitute legal advice. All research contained herein should be verified prior to reliance thereon, and an attorney should be consulted to assess its applicability to any particular model of care. By accessing this site, you accept the terms of our privacy policy and you acknowledge your understanding that this tool is not a replacement for legal counsel. There is no guarantee that this research is up to date, as laws and regulations in this space continue to evolve.
LAST UPDATED DECEMBER 2022; note this report does not generally reflect waivers issued during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and this research does not reflect any requirements of health plans, including Medicaid programs, which may have their own requirements.
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AlabamaPrior to providing any telehealth medical service, the physician, to the extent possible, shall verify the identity of the patient. Ala. Code Ann. §34-24-703 For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
AlaskaAlaska does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
ArizonaArizona does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
ArkansasArkansas does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
CaliforniaCalifornia does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
ColoradoTo establish a provider-patient relationship, a provider must verify and authenticate the patient’s identity and location. Colorado Medical Board, Policy Statement Regarding the Provider/Patient Relationship, No. 40-3 (rev. Aug. 2015)For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
ConnecticutConnecticut does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
DelawareExcept for certain instances, health-care providers may not deliver health-care services by telehealth and telemedicine in the absence of a health-care provider-patient relationship, which requires verification and authentication of the location and, to the extent possible, identity of the patient. Del. Code. Ann. § 6003.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
District of ColumbiaDistrict of Columbia does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
FloridaFlorida does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
GeorgiaGeorgia does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
HawaiiHawaii does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
IdahoIdaho does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
IllinoisIllinois does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
IndianaA practitioner who uses telehealth shall, if such action would otherwise be required in the provision of the same health care services in a manner other than telehealth, ensure that a proper provider-patient relationship is established, which requires the provider to obtain the patient’s name and contact information, and to the extent reasonably possible, the identity of the requesting patient. Ind. Code Ann. § 25-1-9.5-7. For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
IowaA licensee who uses telemedicine shall verify the identity of the patient and ensure that the patient has the ability to verify the identity, licensure status, certification, and credentials of all health care providers who provide telemedicine services prior to the provision of care. Iowa Admin. Code 653-13.11(147,148,272C)(13.11(6))For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
KansasThe Board stresses that each licensee using telemedicine must provide the licensee’s name, location and professional credentials to the patient, and must verify the identity and location of the patient. Kansas State Board of Healing Arts Policy # 21-02, Telemedicine (June 11, 2021).
For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
KentuckyA physician is discouraged from rendering medical advice and/or care using telemedicine technologies without (1) fully verifying and authenticating the location and, to the extent possible, identifying the requesting patient…Kentucky Board of Medicine, Board Opinion Regarding the Use of Telemedicine Technologies in the Practice of Medicine (2014).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
LouisianaLouisiana law requires that a physician who uses telemedicine establish a proper physician-patient relationship, which requires the provider to verify the identity of the patient; appropriate contact and identifying information shall be made part of the medical record. 46 La. Admin. Code Pt XLV, 7503.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MaineThe technology and equipment utilized in the provision of telemedicine services must be able to verify the identity and location of the patient. Code Me. R. tit. 02-373 Ch. 11, § 3For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MarylandA health care practitioner may establish a practitioner-patient relationship through either a synchronous telehealth interaction or an asynchronous telehealth interaction, if the health care practitioner verifies the identity of the patient receiving health care services through telehealth…Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 1-1002. Guidance by the Maryland Board of Physicians states that a patient may present photo identification, or a physician may use any other means to identify a patient that would normally be accepted for an in-person encounter. Md. Board of Physicians, FAQs for Telehealth (accessed Nov. 30, 2022).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MassachusettsMassachusetts does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MichiganMichigan does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MinnesotaMinnesota does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MississippiIn order to practice any form of telemedicine, a valid “physician patient relationship” must be established, which involves verifying that the person requesting the medical treatment is in fact who they claim to be. 30 Code Miss. R. Pt. 2635, R. 5.4.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MissouriMissouri does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
MontanaThe licensee using telemedicine in patient care shall verify the identity of the patient. Mont. Admin. R. 24.156.813For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
NebraskaNebraska does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
NevadaNevada does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
New Hampshire Creation of a physician-patient relationship requires the physician to verify the identity of the patient receiving health care services through telemedicine… New Hampshire Rev. Stat. § 329:1-c.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
New JerseyAny health care provider who engages in telemedicine or telehealth shall ensure that a proper provider-patient relationship is established, which includes properly identifying the patient using, at a minimum, the patient’s name, date of birth, phone number, and address. When properly identifying the patient, the provider may additionally use the patient’s assigned identification number, social security number, photo, health insurance policy number, or other appropriate patient identifier associated directly with the patient. N.J. Rev. Stat. § 45:1-63(a).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
New MexicoNew Mexico does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
New YorkNew York does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
North CarolinaThe licensee using telemedicine should verify the identity and location of the patient and should be prepared to inform the patient of the licensee’s name, location and professional credentials. North Carolina Medical Board, Position Statement: Telemedicine (Mar. 2019); see also North Carolina Medical Board, Position Statement: The Licensee-Patient Relationship (Jan. 2021).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
North DakotaA licensee practicing telemedicine shall establish a bona fide relationship with the patient before the diagnosis or treatment of a patient, which requires verification of the identity of the patient seeking care. N.D. Cent. Code § 43-17-44(2)For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
OhioA physician may prescribe, personally furnish, otherwise provide, or cause to be provided a prescription drug that is not a controlled substance to a person on whom the physician has never conducted a physical examination and who is at a location remote from the physician by complying with certain requirements, including establishing the patient’s identity and physical location. Ohio Admin. Code 4731-11-09(C).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
OklahomaUnless otherwise prohibited by law, a valid physician-patient relationship may be established by an allopathic or osteopathic physician with a patient located in this state through telemedicine, provided that the physician confirms with the patient the patient’s identity and physical location. Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 59, § 478.1(A).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
OregonAt each telemedicine encounter, the licensee should verify the location and identity of the patient…Or. Medical Board, Statement of Philosophy: Telemedicine (April 7, 2022)For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
Rhode IslandRhode Island does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
South CarolinaA licensee who establishes a physician-patient relationship solely via telemedicine shall verify the identity and location of the patient and be prepared to inform the patient of the licensee’s name, location, and professional credentials; S.C. Code. Ann. § 40-47-37For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
South DakotaAny health care professional who utilizes telehealth shall ensure that a proper health provider-patient relationship is established and includes verifying and authenticating the location and, to the extent reasonable, identifying the requesting patient. S.D. Codified Laws § 34-52-3For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
TennesseeThe patient encounter to establish or maintain the physician-patient relationship via telemedicine between the physician in a remote location and the patient may occur so long as a facilitator personally verifies the identity of the patient (if a facilitator is present); different rules apply if one is not present. Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0880-02-.16.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
TexasTexas does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
UtahA provider offering telehealth services shall, prior to each patient encounter, verify the patient’s identity and originating site. Utah Admin. Code R156-1-603For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
VermontIt is unprofessional conduct to medical services to a person in response to any communication transmitted or received by computer or other electronic means when the licensee fails to take the following actions to establish and maintain a proper physician-patient relationship, which requires making a reasonable effort to verify that the person requesting medication is in fact the patient, and is in fact who the person claims to be. Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 1354(a)(33)(a).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
VirginiaA practitioner is discouraged from rendering medical advice and/or care using telemedicine services without fully verifying and authenticating the location and, to the extent possible, confirming the identity of the requesting patient. Virginia Board of Medicine, Guidance Doc. No. 85-12, Telemedicine (Aug. 19, 2021) & Virginia Board of Nursing, Guidance Doc. No. 90-64, Telemedicine for Nurse Practitioners (Aug. 11, 2021).For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
WashingtonWashington does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
West VirginiaA physician using telemedicine technologies to practice medicine shall verify the identity and location of the patient. W. Va. Code Ann. § 30-3-13a.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
WisconsinWisconsin does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.
WyomingWyoming does not prescribe standards for identity verification for telehealth encounters as of the publication date of this report. To view requirements for all states that do require identity verification for telehealth encounters, download the full report.For the complete requirements, click below to download the full report.