Verified October 8, 2026 against the statutes and regulations cited below. Research, not legal advice. All states
What operators miss in West Virginia
- Board rules under W. Va. Code § 30-1-26 require established telemedicine patients to see an in-person practitioner within 12 months of the first telemedicine service, with exceptions such as behavioral medicine, addiction medicine and palliative care.
- Plans must pay in-person rates for telehealth to established patients and for consults to patients in acute care facilities; other virtual encounters are paid at negotiated rates.
Does West Virginia have a telehealth registration for out-of-state clinicians?
Lets an out-of-state clinician provide telehealth to patients in West Virginia within their scope, subject to West Virginia law and board discipline. It does not allow practice from a physical location in the state.
- Name: Interstate telehealth registration
- Who can use it: Clinicians licensed in another state, including physicians, DOs, PAs, RNs and APRNs, registered with the relevant West Virginia board
Citation: W. Va. Code § 30-1-26; W. Va. Code R. §§ 11-15-3, 24-10-3, 19-16-4
When can an out-of-state clinician treat West Virginia patients without a West Virginia license?
A license or registration is not needed for an informal consult or second opinion requested by a West Virginia physician who keeps responsibility, or for uncompensated emergency or disaster aid. No follow-up care exception was confirmed.
- Exception for consultation with a licensed physician
Citation: W. Va. Code §§ 30-3-13a, 30-14-12d
Can a patient relationship start by telehealth in West Virginia?
A new relationship may be established by real-time video, interactive audio with store-and-forward, or real-time audio-only calls where they meet the standard of care. Store-and-forward alone works only for pathology and radiology. Email, internet questionnaires and texts cannot establish it.
- Audio-only can establish the relationship
- Asynchronous care cannot establish the relationship
Citation: W. Va. Code §§ 30-3-13a, 30-14-12d; W. Va. Code R. § 11-15-6
Does West Virginia require telehealth consent?
Physicians and podiatrists must obtain appropriate consent for telemedicine; board rules require telehealth providers other than pathologists and radiologists to obtain the patient's consent to telehealth.
- Consent required
Citation: W. Va. Code §§ 30-3-13a, 30-14-12d; W. Va. Code R. §§ 11-15-7, 24-10-7, 19-16-7
What limits does West Virginia put on prescribing by telehealth?
Treatment or a prescription based solely on an online questionnaire is below the standard of care. Clinicians treating a patient only by telemedicine may not prescribe Schedule II drugs except for established patients of the group practice, hospital orders, and listed pediatric or student diagnoses.
- Questionnaire-only prescribing is prohibited
- Telemedicine-only patients: no Schedule II except established patients (face-to-face within three years in the same group and specialty), in-hospital orders outside the ED, and minors or enrolled students with listed diagnoses such as ADHD; no Schedule II pain drugs for chronic nonmalignant pain on telemedicine alone; no abortion-inducing drugs.
Citation: W. Va. Code §§ 30-1-26, 30-3-13a, 30-14-12d; W. Va. Code R. § 11-15-8
Does West Virginia require its own controlled-substance registration?
Do private payers in West Virginia have to cover telehealth?
- Private-payer telehealth coverage law
- Parity with conditions
Citation: W. Va. Code §§ 33-57-1, 5-16-7b
How does West Virginia treat the corporate practice of medicine?
Adding West Virginia to your telehealth practice?
A State Expansion Pack applies West Virginia's rules to your service line and lists what changes in your workflow before the first visit. We also file telehealth registrations for physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.