State Medical Board extends COVID-19 telemed rules through March 2022

The State Medical Board of Ohio on Wednesday delayed the scheduled expiration of COVID-19 emergency rules that allow for more liberal use of telemedicine, meaning Ohioans will be able to continue using telemedicine through March 2022 for doctor visits that involve prescribing drugs or renewing medical marijuana cards (Source: “Ohio COVID-19 telemed rules for medical pot, drug prescriptions extended through March 2022,” Columbus Dispatch, Nov. 10).

The extension comes as state lawmakers debate a bill that would make the COVID-19 emergency telemedicine rules permanent. 

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took off, the medical board lifted a requirement that Ohioans must see a doctor in-person to prescribe a drug or renew medical marijuana cards. The in-person visit rule was set to expire Sept. 17 after Gov. Mike DeWine ended the COVID-19 emergency declaration. But health care organizations pushed to keep the flexibility since the virus was still circulating. The board delayed the expiration to the end of the year until Wednesday's move to extend it.

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