The numberof doctors licensed in every state is still exceedingly small: only14 in 2018. But the number will only increase as telemedicinegrows.(Photo: Shutterstock)
As telemedicine goes mainstream, some doctors areseizing the opportunity to treat patients thousands of milesaway.
|An increasing number of physicians are choosing tofocus their practices entirely on telemedicine. In order tomaximize their reach, they are getting licensed in multiple states–– sometimes every state.
|Venture capitalists have noted the opportunity and are investingin telemedicine startups. Some startups consist of just a fewdoctors who are licensed in all 50 states.
|Related: GoodRx expands into telemedicine with acquisitionof HeyDoctor
|One example is Lemonaid, a startup based in San Francisco thathas three physicians, all of whom are licensed to practice in everystate. Another is Denver-based CirrusMD, which is available inevery state and provides patients with a "chat-first" approach. Itclaims that patients using its app can chat with a licensed doctorwithin one minute.
|The number of doctors licensed in every state is stillexceedingly small: only 14 in 2018, according to the Federation ofState Medical Boards. But the number will only increase astelemedicine grows.
|Getting medical licenses in multiple states can betime-consuming and cost tens of thousands of dollars.
|There are ways to make the process easier, such as theInterstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement involving 24states that provides physicians an expedited application process ifthey are already certified in one of the participating states.
|Most of the states that are members of the IMLC are small. Theyare the ones that telemedicine doctors would be most likely to passup if the application process was difficult. The only relativelylarge states that are members are Illinois and Michigan. Most largestates –– California, Texas, New York, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania–– are not members.
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