A portion of this story was reposted with permission from NJ.com. Read the full story here.
By Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
As the specter of COVID-19 creeps through our lives like a fog, physicians appear to be on the cusp of having a new tool in the toolbox for medical cannabis patients — telemedicine. When they can use that tool, however, remains unclear as state regulators grapple with a flurry of waivers and changes due to the pandemic.
Background
Last month, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation authorizing any health care practitioner to provide telemedicine and telehealth services for the duration of the current public health emergency, and the waiver of any requirements in law or regulation necessary to facilitate the provision of healthcare services using telemedicine and telehealth during the emergency.
“Telehealth is crucial in order to allow as many New Jerseyans as possible to get the medical services they need during this crisis,” Murphy said. “Through the expansion of telehealth services as well as the waiving of licensure requirements for out-of-state professionals, we will be able to accept assistance from both in-state and from out-of-state more easily and allow residents to get the help they require.”
The rollout
Days after the passage of the law, Murphy ordered the state’s Department of Treasury, Department of Health, Department of Children and Family Services and the Division of Consumer Affairs to identify opportunities to support broader access. As it applies to cannabis space, physicians are governed by the Board of Medical Examiners in the Division of Consumer Affairs, which is part of the Attorney General’s Office.
The DCA’s recommendations for the duration of the declared state of emergency include:
- – The waiver of certain statutory and regulatory provisions eliminating restrictions that prevented practitioners from establishing a doctor/patient relationship using telemedicine or telehealth.
- – Provide greater flexibility in the types of technologies that may be used, including the telephone.
- – Remove requirements that patients be physically present at a specific address in order to engage in telehealth or telemedicine.
- – And encourage licensees to utilize alternative technologies for telehealth such as audio-only telephone or video technology commonly available on smartphones and other devices.
A version of this story first appeared in NJ Cannabis Insider