What does the telemedicine law in Puerto Rico say? Law 168-2018 and Law 8-2025
The telemedicine law in Puerto Rico is Law 168-2018, amended by Law 8-2025. Since 2025, a doctor licensed in Puerto Rico can offer telemedicine without an extra certification. Patients sign written informed consent before care starts, and the doctor must be licensed where the patient is located, so a Puerto Rico doctor cannot see you while you are in Florida. This guide is information, not legal advice.
Is telemedicine legal in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Law 168 of August 1, 2018, the "Ley para el Uso de Telemedicina en Puerto Rico", recognizes the practice of medicine at a distance: diagnosis, treatment and education through technology, with real-time interaction between a doctor and a patient in different places.
The law also requires records to meet health-information confidentiality rules. That is why our visits are real-time video on a secure platform, and they are not recorded.
What changed with Law 8-2025?
Law 8-2025, approved on April 11, 2025, amended Law 168-2018. The main change: any doctor or health professional authorized to practice in Puerto Rico can offer telemedicine without an additional certification.
Doctors licensed only outside Puerto Rico still have to apply for the Department of Health's telemedicine certification.
Law 8-2025 also amended Article 13 of Law 168-2018: insurers and ASES (the Puerto Rico Health Insurance Administration) must pay for telemedicine services as if they were in-person services.
Why we only see patients who are physically in Puerto Rico
One of the Department of Health's published requirements for practicing telemedicine is being licensed in the jurisdiction where the patient is located. Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD is licensed to practice medicine in Puerto Rico, so she can only see you while you are on the island.
We confirm your location at the start of every visit. If the location check fails, the visit does not go ahead and you get a full refund. If you are on the island, you can request a US$79 online doctor visit.
Can a Puerto Rico doctor treat me if I'm in Florida or another state?
No. If you are in Florida, New York or any other state, you need a doctor licensed there. That is true even if you live in Puerto Rico and are only traveling, and even if you have seen us before.
The reverse does work: if you live on the mainland and are visiting Puerto Rico, we can see you while you are here. See sick on vacation in Puerto Rico.
Informed consent under the telemedicine law in Puerto Rico
Article 10 of Law 168-2018 requires every patient to sign an informed-consent form before receiving telemedicine. You can decline telemedicine without losing access to other medical care, and you can change your mind at any time.
The Department of Health's Regulation 9518 (telehealth) adds detail: consent must explain the confidentiality risks of the technology, and for minors it is authorized in writing by a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian. The same regulation prohibits recording visits. See our telehealth consent.
Do national telehealth services work in Puerto Rico?
It depends on whether the doctor who sees you is licensed in Puerto Rico or holds the certification the law requires. Before you use any telehealth service, ask who will treat you and check their license on the Puerto Rico medical board's lookup. Our guide shows how to verify a doctor's license in Puerto Rico.
Insurance and telemedicine in Puerto Rico
Law 8-2025 allows telemedicine to be billed to insurers and ASES. We do not bill insurance: a visit is one fixed price you pay directly, and on request we give you an itemized receipt (superbill) to claim from your plan yourself. See pricing and using US insurance or Medicare in Puerto Rico.
Disclaimer
This guide summarizes public legal texts to help patients. It is not legal advice. For a specific situation, talk to a lawyer or the Puerto Rico Department of Health. The full texts are linked in the sources, and they are in Spanish.
Video visit: US$79 · Pay by card · See the price and what is included
Before you book
- You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors and tourists are welcome).
- We see patients from 6 months old. Patients under 21: a parent or legal guardian must be on camera for the whole visit.
- Real-time video only; we do not do phone-call visits.
- We do not prescribe controlled substances.
Frequently asked questions
- Are Puerto Rico doctors allowed to practice telemedicine without extra certification?
- Yes. Since Law 8-2025, doctors authorized to practice in Puerto Rico need no additional telemedicine certification. Doctors licensed only elsewhere still do.
- Can a Puerto Rico doctor treat me if I'm in Florida or another state?
- No. The doctor must be licensed where you are during the visit. Our doctor is licensed in Puerto Rico, so you must be physically in Puerto Rico.
- Is telemedicine legal in Puerto Rico?
- Yes. Law 168-2018 governs telemedicine in Puerto Rico and requires signed informed consent before the first telemedicine service.
- Are visits recorded?
- No. Video visits are not recorded.
Sources
- Law 168-2018, Puerto Rico Telemedicine Act (LexJuris, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Law 8-2025, amendments to Law 168-2018 (LexJuris, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Regulation 9518, Telehealth (PR Department of Health, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- Telemedicine practice requirements (PR Department of Health, Spanish) (accessed 2026-09-30)