Next, check the people and the plan.
How do I check the care behind the screen?
Start with names you can check. Then ask what the visit includes and how the health professional seeing you will hear your questions.
The short answer
Ask who is checking your health and who sends the medicine.
Get the full name and role of the clinician, the health professional who sees you. Ask for the pharmacy's name before comparing the rest of an offer.
A state medical board is the state group that keeps doctors’ licence records and reports decisions to stop or limit their work.
A record showing no reported problems does not establish the doctor's skill.
Check the person
Where do I check a doctor's licence?
The Federation of State Medical Boards is a membership group for state medical boards; its website provides a link to each board’s site.
First, work out your physical location for the visit, then check that state’s medical board. Match the doctor's name. Check whether their licence is current and whether the record says their work has been stopped or limited. If anything is unclear, ask the board whether the doctor can treat you.
As of September 2026, U.S. health-department guidance says a doctor needs permission in your visit location’s state to provide your care.
For someone in another health profession, find out which state board keeps the record of their licence.
Look up your medical boardCheck the pharmacy
Who will make or send the medicine?
To check a pharmacy’s licence, use the state-by-state links supplied by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If the pharmacy is missing from your state’s record, the FDA advises against using it.
A licence record alone does not show whether the pharmacy is filling prescriptions correctly.
Open the state pharmacy searchesMake room to ask
What can I bring to the conversation?
Use these as prompts. Put the question that matters most to you at the top of your notes.
- What health concern are we trying to address?
- What choices fit my concern, including no medicine?
- What studies or other information support using this exact product for my concern?
- Could anything make this choice unsuitable for me?
- Do I need an exam or tests, and why?
- Who can I reach after the visit?
Under guidance current as of September 2026, a patient needs a way of raising questions once their visit ends; the Federation of State Medical Boards provides that guidance.
As of September 2026, this group offers guidance, while the rules that bind doctors are decided by individual states.
Words made clear
A small glossary for the visit.
All words are shown.
- Telehealth
A call or online exchange used to give care while the patient and clinician are apart.
- Compounded medicine
A medicine prepared to order, often by a pharmacist.
- Prescription
An order for medicine written or recorded by a doctor or another authorised health professional is a prescription.
- State medical board
The state group that keeps doctors’ licence records and reports decisions to stop or limit a doctor’s work.
- Prior authorization
A health plan’s review before agreeing to pay for some medicines.
- Formulary
The list of medicines a particular health plan covers.
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