What are different types of telehealth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Phone, video and messages: the different ways an online visit can happen.
Read a little further where it matters.
These are the public sources behind Telemed Ready. Follow the link beside a point for a quick check, or browse the groups below when you want more context. The source notes reflect October 2026. They explain the general picture, while your provider or health plan answers questions about your own visit.
Keep the limit with the point
Dates matter most on the prescribing page. As of October 2026, the DEA’s temporary rule runs through December 31, 2026. For an appointment after that date, check the current source with the prescriber rather than relying on this page.
You don’t have to read the whole list. Find the part that helps with your question, then take anything personal to the clinician, office or insurer involved. A public source won’t know the details of your health or coverage.
Understanding the visit and getting ready
What should I know before my telehealth visit?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Getting your questions and medicine details ready, asking for support and understanding the answers.
Helping patients prepare for their telehealth appointment
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
What to have nearby, how to join and who will hear the conversation.
What if I'm having trouble using telehealth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Things to try when the connection fails, and when to call the office.
What can be treated through telehealth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
What telehealth can cover and how to check whether it fits your needs.
Telehealth
National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus
Prescriptions, missing records and times when an examination or test needs to happen in person.
Prescribing rules and warning signs
Getting started with licensure
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Why the clinician needs permission to practise where you will physically be.
DEA Extends Telemedicine Flexibilities to Ensure Continued Access to Care
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
As of October 2026, the temporary rule ends December 31, 2026; conditions still apply.
Considering an Online Pharmacy?
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Prescription requirements, state licensing and access to a licensed pharmacist.
Privacy, payment and afterwards
Telehealth Privacy and Security Tips for Patients
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
Finding privacy, checking visit links and taking care with devices and networks.
How do I pay for telehealth?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Questions for the provider and insurer about the cost of your particular appointment.
What happens after my telehealth visit?
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Where instructions may arrive and how to ask about the next step.
When to use the emergency room – adult
National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
When to call for emergency help instead of waiting for a routine visit.
The links beside each point and the list here lead to the same sources. Use whichever is handier when you want to check a detail or read further after the call. For a later appointment, check the current rule again with the provider.
Keep this handy
Read the source beside the point you want to check, with its date and limits in view. Ask the responsible clinician, provider or insurer about your own circumstances. Return to the current rule before a later visit rather than relying on an old reading.