Telemedicine Companies Providing Prescription-Only Medications: Pros, Cons, and Proposed Guidelines.

Abstract

In the past few years, there has been a significant increase in the number of direct-to-consumer telehealth companies offering prescription medications to women. Leveraging technology, these companies have the potential to improve access to care and ensure that women have access to prescription-only medications in a convenient fashion. However, it is important to ensure that they are doing so in a safe, patient-centered way that observes evidence-based prescribing guidelines. In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of direct-to-consumer telehealth companies offering prescription medicine and suggest several guidelines to ensure that women are being cared for in an appropriate way.