The assumption
An online form is the whole assessment.
What the answer rests on
The Federation of State Medical Boards, whose members are boards overseeing doctors, says an online questionnaire asking everyone identical questions is insufficient on its own. Its guidance calls for the information needed for a proper assessment and the ability to ask follow-up questions.
What the screen leaves open
The format does not settle the quality of the visit
Telehealth is care at a distance. As of September 2026, Illinois law includes phone and video calls and records sent for later review. That definition does not decide whether a particular visit is enough to prescribe a drug.
As of September 2026, Illinois requires the standard of care for remote visits to match that for visits in person. The person treating you must stay within the work they are allowed to do.
This guidance is advice for the state boards that oversee doctors; it is not itself Illinois law. It says the person providing care must arrange any needed test or send the patient for an examination that cannot be done remotely.
The short version
Questions about the visit itself
| Before the visit | During the visit |
|---|---|
| Who will review my history? | What else do you need to know before deciding? |
| How will we speak? | Can I ask about options beyond this medicine? |
| What happens if I need a test? | What would make an in-person assessment useful? |
| How can I contact the person who treats me after the visit? | What follow-up will we agree on? |
After the remote assessment
A prescription is a possible outcome
As of September 2026, an in-person visit is generally not a federal requirement for remotely prescribing medicines outside the government’s special drug-control list. These are called non-controlled medicines. State rules and the need for a proper medical assessment still apply.
A controlled medicine is on the government’s special drug-control list; testosterone is one example. As of September 2026, federal rules for prescribing these medicines remotely differ from those for other drugs. Semaglutide and tirzepatide are outside that federal list.
A discussion can end with more questions, a test, or a different plan. Ask the service what happens to the fee if no prescription is issued. Bring a list of medicines and the questions you want answered.
Plan for an unfinished remote visit
If this visit leaves a gap, how will we arrange the next part of the assessment?
Keep a question in your notesEvidence for this chapter
Chapter notes
- Illinois: what counts as remote care
Definitions of live calls and later review.
- Illinois: the standard of care
The limits of remote practice.
- Medical boards: remote assessment guidance
Advice on questionnaires, patient questions, and arranging further care.
- Medical boards: questions must go both ways
Guidance on treatment menus and patient questions.
- Federal prescription rules
The prescription rule for medicines outside the controlled-drug rules.