Find the names behind the service
An offer involves people as well as a website. Ask who will assess your health and which pharmacy will send the medicine, then look up their records.
Name the person who will assess you
Ask for the prescriber’s full name and professional role before paying. The prescriber writes the prescription: the order for a medicine.
For a doctor, go to the medical board
Doctor licensing and public discipline records are held by state boards, explains their federation, the Federation of State Medical Boards.
Some states split doctors’ records between separate boards, so use the directory to find the right one.
Find the board for the doctor’s state
For a different professional role, ask which state licensing board holds that person’s record. Match the role as well as the name.
| A record can answer | What remains to ask |
|---|---|
| Does this doctor hold a current licence? | How will this person assess my health and explain the options? |
| Has the board published discipline? | Who will follow up with me, and how do I reach them? |
| Does the name match the person offered? | Will I see that person, or could someone else handle my care? |
Check permission where you will be
The US health department’s guidance, checked on 26 September 2026, says state permission must cover where the patient is.
State rules decide how that permission works, including any exceptions.
Federal guidance on location and permission to practise
For a screen visit, ask: is this health professional allowed to practise in the state where I will be sitting that day?
Name the pharmacy as well
Get the pharmacy’s full name, too. The US medicine regulator, FDA, notes that a service’s website can leave unclear who made the medicine.
FDA links to state pharmacy licence searches; the state board holds the licensing record.
Open the pharmacy licence search for your state
FDA’s pharmacy checklist includes a valid prescription, a pharmacist to answer questions and state licensing.
The same checklist cautions that a polished website can disguise an unsafe pharmacy.
Save the answer, not just the page
Keep the full names and the dates of your checks with the written offer. Ask the service to clear up a mismatch before moving on.