<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><title></title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0 { color: black; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000000 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001 { color: black; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3 { color: black; background: #FFFFFF; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000002 { color: #0000FF; background: #FFFFFF; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003 { color: black; background: white; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004 { color: black; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0-000005 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; text-indent: 0.00in; text-align: justify; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 108%; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000006 { color: black; background: #FFFFFF; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000007 { color: black; background: #FFFFFF; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000009 { color: #0000FF; background: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules?Rule=20:50:04:14"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000000">20:50:04:14</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">.  </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">Telehealth</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">.</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0"> </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">The same standard of care applies to the practice of optometry, whether provided in-person or via telehealth. An optometrist may not provide telehealth services unless the optometrist has established a provider-patient relationship with the patient in compliance with SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=34-52-3"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000002">34-52-3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3"> and this section</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">To provide telehealth services, an optometrist must have provided services to the patient at an in-person consultation no more than </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">three years prior</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3"> to the date when telehealth services are provided. An optometrist may provide telehealth services</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004"> in</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3"> the absence of a provider-patient relationship when, in the </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">professional clinical judgment of the optometrist</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">, the patient requires emergency care</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0-000005"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000006"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">Before providing telehealth services, </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">the optometrist must</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">(1)  </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">Disclose to the patient</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3"> the methods of telehealth delivery </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">and treatment, and any limitations; and</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">    (2)  </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">O</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">btain written consent from the patient to </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">receive telehealth services</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000007"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">An </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">optometrist treating a patient through telehealth shall perform</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3"> a comprehensive optometric </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">examination, as described in </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">§ </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules?Rule=20:50:07:01"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008">20:50:07:01</span></a><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">, before prescribing eyeglasses or contact lenses to the patient</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000007"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3">    </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">An optometrist providing telehealth services shall establish protocols for referrals for emergency services</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">    </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">An optometrist providing telehealth services may not issue a prescription for any controlled substance to the patient for whom telehealth services are provided</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">Failure to comply with this section </span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">is unprofessional conduct pursuant to SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=36-7-25"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000009">36-7-25</span></a><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C3-000004">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0"> </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">52 SDR 2, effective July 20, 2025</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">General Authority:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=36-7-15"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008">36-7-15</span></a><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">(2).</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">    </span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000001">Law Implemented:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0"> SDCL </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=34-52-2"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008">34-52-2</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=34-52-3"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008">34-52-3</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">, </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes?Statute=36-7-25"><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0-000008">36-7-25</span></a><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">(8)</span><span class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4C0">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4P0"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s1391b799-0644-4b49-a81c-1db3bae9dbb4000003"> </span></p></div></body></html>