Collaborative Practice
Care delivered as a team.
Collaborative Practice refers to the process by which physicians, nurse practitioners, and specialists work together as a team to care for their patients.
The Mechanics
How it works
- Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) are formal contracts in which licensed physicians will provide clinical oversight and case consultations for nurse practitioners or physician assistants.
- Depending on which state the patient is in for a virtual visit, providers will have to follow that state's laws for licensing and supervision.
- Digital healthcare technology allows for a team of healthcare providers to share notes, review cases, and plan treatments in real time.
For Providers
Key considerations for providers
Practice and Prescriptive Authority
Whether or not physician collaboration is required to treat patients and prescribe medications.
Written Agreements
Whether or not a state requires a formal, written collaborative agreement.
Physician Qualifications
Whether or not there are requirements governing the location, specialty, or qualifications of a collaborating physician.
Geographic Requirements
Whether or not there are requirements dictating that collaborating physicians must practice at either the same location or within a certain geographical distance.
CTeL Research
CTeL 50-state policy comparison
CTeL's research helps healthcare organizations understand the state-level and regulatory requirements that shape virtual care. Understanding these requirements can help telehealth providers and digital health organizations identify potential compliance issues as they develop multi-state healthcare models.
Collaborative practice rules are set state by state — who may practice independently, what has to be written down, and how close a collaborating physician must be. CTeL tracks those differences so member organisations can build multi-state models without guessing.
One team, fifty rulebooks.
Interested in understanding collaborative practice requirements across the United States?
Contact CTeL to learn more about our 50-state surveys, research, and member resources.