Connecticut good faith exam requirements

Who can perform a good faith exam in Connecticut

Connecticut-licensed physicians (MD/DO), APRNs with independent prescriptive authority (after 2,000 collaborative hours), and physician assistants under physician supervision. The performing provider must hold a current Connecticut license and prescriptive authority for the medication in question.

Visit format rules in Connecticut

Synchronous visit required: Yes. Audio-only permitted: No. Prior in-person exam required: No. Synchronous audio-visual is required for GFE in Connecticut. Audio-only telehealth is permitted in limited circumstances but is not sufficient for new-patient GFE for compounded medications, controlled substances, or aesthetic procedures.

When a good faith exam is required in Connecticut

Connecticut requires GFE before any new prescription via telehealth, before compounded medication therapy initiation (including GLP-1, hormone therapy, peptides), before aesthetic medical procedures, and before ordering laboratory studies that inform treatment decisions.

What must be documented

Patient identification and consent verification Medical history including current medications and allergies Chief complaint and clinical assessment Documented medical decision-making with rationale Treatment plan with dosing and follow-up cadence Synchronous audio-visual encounter documentation Provider signature with Connecticut license credentials

Enforcement context in Connecticut

Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection has issued multiple enforcement actions in 2025-2026 against compounding pharmacies and telehealth programs serving Connecticut patients without proper GFE workflows. The Medical Examining Board has independently pursued disciplinary action against physicians prescribing without examination.

Statutes and rules cited

Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-9c — Telehealth practice in Connecticut: Establishes telehealth practice standards in Connecticut, including the requirement to establish a provider-patient relationship through appropriate examination before prescribing. Conn. Gen. Stat. §21a-249 — Prescribing standards: Connecticut prescribing standards including the requirement for a medical evaluation supporting any prescribed medication. Conn. Agencies Regs. §21a-249-1 — Drug Control Division regulations: DCP regulations on prescribing and compounded medications dispensed to Connecticut patients, enforced jointly with the Medical Examining Board.

Frequently asked questions

Does Connecticut have specific telehealth GFE rules?

Yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-9c establishes that telehealth practitioners must meet the same standard of care as in-person practice, including establishing a provider-patient relationship through synchronous audio-visual examination before prescribing. Connecticut also requires the practitioner to be licensed in Connecticut.

Can Connecticut APRNs independently perform GFE?

Yes — Connecticut APRNs with independent prescriptive authority (after 2,000 collaborative hours per Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-87a) can independently perform GFE and prescribe within scope. APRNs operating below independent authority require a collaborative agreement with a Connecticut physician.

What does Connecticut enforcement against telehealth GFE look like?

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (Drug Control Division) and the Medical Examining Board have jointly enforced against telehealth programs in 2025-2026. Common citations include async-only GFE, template-only chart notes, no documented medical decision-making, and prescribing without Connecticut licensure.

Does Connecticut accept audio-only telehealth for GFE?

Connecticut accepts audio-only telehealth in limited clinical circumstances, but it is not sufficient for new-patient GFE establishing a provider-patient relationship for compounded medications, controlled substances, or aesthetic treatments. Synchronous audio-visual is the standard for these higher-risk prescribing contexts.