FTC Weighs-in on Telehealth: Providing Comments Regarding Alaska’s Proposed Licensure and Standard of Care Requirements

In March 2016, the US Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) staff submitted public comments regarding the telehealth provisions of a proposed state bill in Alaska demonstrating the FTC’s continued focus on health care competition and general discouragement of anti competitive conduct in health care markets, with a renewed interest and focus on telehealth.

By way of background, in March 2015, Alaska State Senator Pete Kelly sponsored Senate Bill 74. The Bill includes a provision that allows physicians licensed in Alaska, but physically located out-of-state, to provide telehealth services in the same manner as licensed physicians located in-state, and affirmatively allows certain Alaska-licensed behavioral health professionals to provide services remotely subject to existing licensure requirements.1 Alaska Senate Bill 74 passed in the Senate on April 14, 2016 and in the House of Representatives on April 17, 2016. The Bill currently awaits signature by the Governor.

Consistent with the 2004 FTC and US Department of Justice (“DOJ”) joint report entitled “Improving Health Care: A Dose of Competition”, which advised that when used properly, telemedicine has considerable promise as a mechanism to broaden access, lower costs, and improve health care quality, in comment, FTC staff expressed support for Alaska’s efforts to broaden the base of available healthcare providers through the removal of the in-state restriction, noting that many physicians currently licensed in Alaska are located out-of-state. The FTC staff asserted that the Bill has the potential to increase the supply of physicians and competition from lower-cost providers, reduce transportation costs and improve access to quality care.

Under the previous Alaska law, following patient consent, physicians providing services without conducting a physical examination were required to share all records of the encounter with the patient’s primary care provider (“PCP”).2 Records did not have to be shared if the same service was provided in-person and included a physical examination. According to FTC staff, additional requirements, such as the requirement to share records with a patient’s PCP, that specifically target remote providers have the potential to overburden and dissuade physicians from practice in Alaska, while discouraging patients who may not have a PCP or prefer to keep their records confidential.

In addition, in a footnote, FTC staff commented that “the necessity of multi-state licensure for physicians who practice across state lines is often considered a barrier to the deployment of telehealth services, and that less restrictive alternatives could reduce the burdens of practicing across state lines yet maintain appropriate standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.” In an effort to reduce this barrier, the Federation of State Medical Boards has formed the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (“Compact”) to allow physicians who are licensed in a Compact-member state to participate in a streamlined licensure process in Compact-member states. Twelve states have adopted the Compact and many other states have introduced the legislation. Other similar efforts are underway to ease the licensing burdens applicable to other types of medical professionals. The increased focus on the need for uniformity in the regulation of telehealth is a sign that state and federal regulatory agencies and providers recognize the value of telehealth and are increasingly focused on finding legal and regulatory solutions to encourage its expansion.

1 Alaska Stat. Ann. § 08.64.364.

2 Id.

McDermott Will & Emery






Ashley Fischer
Ashley M. Fischer represents health care providers on a wide range of corporate and regulatory matters, including affiliations; collaborations; health reform initiatives and alignment strategies; joint ventures; and managed care contracting networks such as clinically integrated networks (CINs) and accountable care organizations (ACOs). Her health antitrust practice includes assessing the implications of the formation and operation of competitor collaborations (CINs, ACOs, joint ventures), merger analysis and defense, compliance and ordinary course conduct. Read Ashley Fischer's full bio.


Lisa Mazur
Lisa Mazur advises health care providers and technology companies on a variety of legal, regulatory and compliance matters with a particular focus on digital health topics, including telehealth, telemedicine, mobile health and consumer wellness. Lisa advises a variety of health care providers and technology companies involved in “digital health,” including assisting clients in developing and implementing telemedicine programs by advising on issues related to professional licensure, scope of practice, informed consent, prescribing and reimbursement. Lisa helps clients identify and understand the relevant legal issues, and develop and implement practical, forward-thinking solutions and strategies that meet the complex and still-evolving digital health regulatory landscape.  Read Lisa Mazur's full bio.


Marshall E. Jackson, Jr.
Marshall E. Jackson, Jr. focuses his practice on transactional and regulatory counseling for clients in the health care industry, as well as advises clients on the legal, regulatory and compliance aspects of digital health. Marshall provides counseling and advice to hospitals and health systems, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, post/sub-acute providers, physician practices, and other public and private health care companies in a variety of complex transactions and health regulatory compliance matters. Read Marshall Jackson's full bio.

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