Bill > SB2554

This bill expands the definition of the "practice of medicine" to include "obesity medicine," which is defined as the comprehensive care of patients with obesity, including prescribing medication for its treatment, by a physician certified in this specialty. It also revises the definition of "telemedicine" to encompass a licensed physician practicing medicine from a distant site to a patient at an originating site using HIPAA-compliant telecommunication systems, which can include real-time (synchronous) or non-real-time (asynchronous) electronic communication, remote monitoring, and store-and-forward technology. Importantly, this bill allows physicians practicing obesity medicine to prescribe legend drugs, such as GLP-1 therapeutics, to patients via telemedicine, provided they obtain sufficient medical history, conduct necessary screenings, document medical necessity and monitoring plans, and perform periodic reassessments consistent with the standard of care. The Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure is required to adopt rules to implement these changes within 180 days of the act's effective date.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2554.xml