Must someone be on site while a patient is treated in Mississippi?
Intake · part of The Practice Perimeter
Short answer
Not always — telemedicine needs no on-site presenter if the technology gives the physician the same information as an in-person exam; an on-site licensed provider is only an option when physical findings are needed. Laser use does require a physician on site.
Providers using telemedicine technologies to provide medical care to patients located in Mississippi must provide an appropriate examination prior to diagnosis and treatment of the patient. However, this exam need not be in person if the technology is sufficient to provide the same information to the physician as if the exam had been performed face to face. Store-and-Forward Transfer Technology may be used to enhance, but never replace, real-time provider-patient interaction. Provider-patient interaction may be audio-visual or audio only where medically appropriate. Other exams may be appropriate if a licensed health care provider is on site with the patient and is able to provide various physical findings that the physician needs to complete an adequate assessment. However, a simple questionnaire without an appropriate exam is in violation of this policy and may subject the physician to discipline by the Board.
Miss. Admin. Code Title 30, Part 2635, Rule 5.5 · verified Sep 8, 2026 · regulatory monitoring, not legal advice
Related Mississippi rules
In order to practice any form of telemedicine, as defined in R.5.1 , a valid “physician patient relationship” must be established. The elements of this valid relationship are: A. verify that the person requesting the medical treatment is in fact who they claim to be; B. conducting an appropriate history and physical examination of the patient that meets the applicable standard of care; C. establishing a diagnosis through the use of accepted medical practices, i.e., a patient history, mental status exam, physical exam and appropriate diagnostic and laboratory testing; D. discussing with the patient the diagnosis, risks and benefits of various treatment options to obtain informed consent; E. insuring the availability of appropriate follow-up care; and F. maintaining a complete medical record available to patient and other treating health care providers.
Miss. Admin. Code Title 30, Part 2635, Rule 5.4 · verified Sep 8, 2026
Essential components of proper prescribing and legitimate medical practice require that the physician obtains a thorough medical history and conducts an appropriate physical and/or mental examination before prescribing any medication. Prescribing drugs to individuals that the physician has never met and based solely on answers to a set of questions, as is found in Internet or toll-free telephone prescribing fails to meet an acceptable standard of care and could constitute unprofessional conduct subject to disciplinary action.
Miss. Admin. Code Title 30, Part 2635, Rule 7.1 (Internet Prescribing) · verified Sep 8, 2026
How other states answer this
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arkansas
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
Related Mississippi questions
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