N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-9.25

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

Section 13:35-9.25 - Telemedicine: provision of services through telemedicine or telehealth

(a) As long as an acupuncturist has satisfied the requirements of N.J.A.C. 13:35-9.24, an acupuncturist may provide health care services to a patient through the use of telemedicine and may engage in telehealth to support and facilitate the provision of health care services to patients.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) above, an acupuncturist shall not provide health care services through the use of telemedicine that involve a patient or other unlicensed person inserting needles into the body of the patient.

(c) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, an acupuncturist shall determine the patient's originating site and record this information in the patient's record.

(d) An acupuncturist providing healthcare services through telemedicine shall use interactive, real-time, two-way communication technologies, which shall include, except as provided in (f) below, a video component that allows an acupuncturist to see a patient and the patient to see the acupuncturist during the provision of services.

(e) An acupuncturist providing services through telemedicine or telehealth may use asynchronous store-and-forward technology to allow for the electronic transmission of:

1. Images;

2. Diagnostics;

3. Data; and

4. Medical information.

(f) If, after accessing and reviewing the patient's records, an acupuncturist determines that he or she is able to meet the standard of care for such services if they were being provided in-person without using the video component described in (d) above, the acupuncturist may use interactive, real-time, two-way audio in combination with asynchronous store-and-forward technology, without a video component.

(g) During the provision of services through telemedicine or telehealth, and after the provision of services, an acupuncturist, or another designated acupuncturist, shall provide his or her name, professional credentials, and contact information to the patient. Such contact information shall enable the patient to contact the acupuncturist for at least 72 hours following the provision of services, or for a longer period if warranted by the patient's circumstances and accepted standards of care.

(h) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, an acupuncturist shall review any history or records provided by a patient as follows:

1. For an initial encounter with a patient, history and records shall be reviewed prior to the provision of services through telemedicine or telehealth; and

2. For any subsequent interactions with a patient, history and records shall be reviewed either prior to the provision of services through telemedicine or telehealth or contemporaneously with the encounter with the patient.

(i) After the provision of services through telemedicine or telehealth, an acupuncturist shall provide the patient, upon request, with his or her records created due to the services provided.

(j) An acupuncturist shall provide, upon a patient's written request, the patient's information to the patient's primary care provider or to other health care providers.

(k) An acupuncturist engaging in telemedicine or telehealth shall refer a patient for follow-up care when necessary.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:35-9.25

Adopted by 52 N.J.R. 1911(b), effective 10/19/2020