As many have already heard, the Missouri House of Representatives, via an amendment to House Bill No. 1896, will mandate that a physician meet with and examine “the qualifying patient in person…”
This means that physicians will no longer be able to utilize telehealth technology to complete physician certifications for potential medical marijuana patients in Missouri. The obvious impact of this will be a reduction in access for patients who may otherwise have difficulty attending an in person visit to a doctor.
The idea of telemedicine has been around since the 1970’s, though it really came of age is the early 2000’s and is currently widely accepted in the medical community as a valid and valuable medical service for patients. In fact, Mercy Hospital (located in Missouri) opened a location that specializes only in telemedicine in 2015; Mercy Virtual. So if the general use of telemedicine is widely accepted in the medical community, what could motivate legislators to make this move? How are politicians qualified to make such decisions? Whatever the case, this isn’t the most critical issue.
The referenced amendment is unconstitutional! At no place in the Article XIV of the Missouri Constitution does it specify that a physician must conduct a physical exam of the patient, much less one an exam carried out ‘in person.’ In fact, the primary function is for a physician to certify that a patient has a qualifying condition which may not require an examination of any sort: ‘”Physician certification” means a document, whether handwritten, electronic or in another commonly used format, signed by a physician and stating that, in the physician’s professional opinion, the patient suffers from a qualifying medical condition.’
Most importantly, this restriction would clearly infringe upon the stated purpose of Article XIV: “This section is intended to permit state-licensed physicians to recommend marijuana for medical purposes to patients with serious illnesses and medical conditions. The section allows patients with qualifying medical conditions the right to discuss freely with their physicians the possible benefits of medical marijuana use, the right of their physicians to provide professional advice concerning the same, and the right to use medical marijuana for treatment under the supervision of a physician.”
Greenway has a great article on the topic with a call to action. I vigorously agree with this and ask that all my community friends Make your opinion known! Contact your local senator and representative. This is not tolerable!
More details from the Missourian
Much Love,
Eric McSwain
Founder
Lit Naturals
If I can be diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics etc through telehealth means why would it be different of MMJ patients? Take into consideration that the MMJ physician has your medical records the telehealth does not necessarily.