Last month, the Texas Medical Board’s (TMB) motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Teladoc, Inc. was denied. The lawsuit involved a challenge to a TMB regulation restricting the use of telehealth services in the State of Texas. Teladoc, the nation’s leading provider of telehealth services was recently selected by Meridian Health, a non-profit health care organization in New Jersey, to provide telehealth services to its residents. Based on the recent court decision, Teladoc is in a position to continue to lead the charge in the fight for the ability to provide quality, cost effective health care to patients through virtual physician encounters.
The court’s decision marks the seventh ruling in favor of Teladoc in its lawsuit to prevent the TMB from effectuating its promulgated rule that Teladoc alleges is intended to stifle competition in order to protect traditional physician practices. Last week, the TMB requested a federal appeal of the decision, which may or may not be granted given the status of the case in the District Court. The result of this lawsuit will affect the landscape for telemedicine nationwide. Check back with Frier Levitt for updates on this case and the restrictions on, and opportunities presented by, telemedicine.
