Compare visit formats
A form and a conversation are different things.
Think about how you want to explain your concern. Then ask how the person assessing you will come back with questions of their own.
Compare how the exchange happens
| Format | Question to put to the service |
|---|---|
| Live video | Who is on the call, and is there time for my questions? |
| Phone | Why is this format suitable for my assessment? |
| Written exchange | Can the clinician request more history, and can I ask them questions? |
FSMB (Federation of State Medical Boards) guidance allows a remote opening assessment if it meets the required care standard. The guidance reviewed September 26, 2026 includes written exchanges that a clinician reads later.
State requirements can differ, so that guidance is not permission for every format in every state.
Read note AA treatment menu is not an assessment
In guidance adopted in May 2026, FSMB said a patient choosing a treatment from a menu cannot, by itself, meet the care standard.
The guidance also makes room for questions from the patient, rather than an exchange led only by the clinician.
Ask how your own concern changes the conversation. If the answer only returns to a product menu, bring the question back to the assessment.
Read note BPrepare for the exchange
- Can I describe the concern in my own words?
- Can I add a medicine or a health detail the form did not ask about?
- Who answers if I do not understand the proposed plan?
- How do I get a copy of what was agreed?