Georgia Healthcare & Telehealth Compliance Guide
Georgia's law that explicitly prohibited the corporate practice of medicine was repealed in 1982. While no specific statute currently forbids it, the legal landscape remains moderately restrictive due to a common law precedent and regulations against fee-splitting with non-medical entities for patient referrals.
- Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM): Moderate
- Telehealth prescribing permitted: Yes
- In-person exam required first: No
- Audio-only visits allowed: Yes
- Nurse practitioner authority: Restricted
- Collaborative practice agreement required: Yes
- Good Faith Exam required: Yes
Telehealth prescribing in Georgia
A practitioner-patient relationship must be established, which can be done via telehealth if the technology provides an examination equivalent to an in-person one. While non-controlled substances can be prescribed, the prescription of controlled substances via telehealth is generally prohibited, with some exceptions under temporary federal waivers.
Controlled substances in Georgia
The prescribing of controlled substances via telehealth is generally prohibited in Georgia. Federal laws like the Ryan Haight Act and state regulations restrict this practice, although temporary extensions of COVID-19-era flexibilities have allowed for some exceptions.
Medical director requirements in Georgia
Georgia requires a licensed physician to serve as a medical director. For telehealth services provided by APRNs, a delegating physician is necessary, and this physician must adhere to all standard requirements.
Nurse practitioner scope and collaborative practice in Georgia
The nurse protocol agreement specifies the delegated medical acts and prescriptive authority from the physician to the nurse practitioner. The Georgia Composite Medical Board provides a template for these agreements and oversees their review and approval.
Key operating notes for Georgia
Key compliance considerations in Georgia include the requirement for a 'Good Faith Exam' (GFE) before prescribing, which can be conducted via telehealth. Additionally, while there is no explicit in-person visit requirement, the standard of care for establishing a patient-practitioner relationship must be met, which may necessitate an in-person visit in some cases.
Recent regulatory changes in Georgia
No significant recent changes.
Frequently asked questions
What CPOM compliance steps are required in Georgia?
Georgia has moderate CPOM restrictions that require careful structuring of your healthcare business. While not as strict as some states, you'll still need proper corporate governance and may need a PC-MSO structure depending on your business model. TrueEval provides state-specific CPOM analysis for Georgia.
Do I need a medical director for my medspa or IV therapy clinic in Georgia?
Yes — Georgia requires physician oversight for medical procedures performed in medspas, IV therapy clinics, and similar brick-and-mortar healthcare establishments. A medical director develops protocols, provides clinical oversight, and ensures regulatory compliance. TrueEval places board-certified medical directors licensed in Georgia who understand both telehealth and in-person practice requirements.
Are Collaborative Practice Agreements required for NPs in Georgia?
Yes, Georgia requires Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) between nurse practitioners and supervising physicians. NPs in Georgia have restricted practice authority, meaning a CPA is necessary for prescriptive authority. TrueEval provides Georgia-specific CPA templates and matches NPs with qualified collaborating physicians.
What are the Good Faith Exam requirements for prescribing in Georgia?
Georgia requires a Good Faith Exam before prescribing medications via telehealth. The GFE can be conducted via telehealth — no in-person visit is required first. Audio-only telehealth is permitted. TrueEval's physician network conducts compliant GFEs for Georgia patients.
What compliance requirements apply to cash-pay healthcare businesses in Georgia?
Cash-pay healthcare operations in Georgia — including telehealth, medspas, IV therapy, and wellness clinics — must still comply with all state medical practice acts, CPOM laws, prescribing regulations, and scope of practice requirements. The main difference is you won't deal with insurance billing compliance, but you must still maintain proper corporate structure, physician oversight, and clinical documentation. TrueEval specializes in cash-pay compliance frameworks for Georgia.