Word in play / Licence
Look past the badge to the record.
An in-person clinic and a licensed telehealth service are categories of care to explore. Start with the names behind the offer.
- State medical board
- A state medical board keeps public records of doctors’ licences and public action taken against them.
Check the public record
Names make the offer checkable.
Get the doctor’s licence details and full name. Open the board directory, choose the state where the visit will take place, and find the record.
Find the state medical boardThe directory leads to the board itself. Read the name, licence status, and any published action.
A clear public record means no public board action is shown; it is not a rating of the doctor’s care.
A board of pharmacy is the state body that licenses pharmacies.
Ask which pharmacy would send the medicine. Use the pharmacy’s full name for the separate pharmacy-board search.
Open the pharmacy licence searchThe state links lead to pharmacy-board records; match the actual pharmacy name.
Medicine reviews are part of FDA’s work. The letters mean Food and Drug Administration.
FDA advises against using an online pharmacy missing from the state’s searchable list of licensed pharmacies.
Compare badges and records
Different checks answer different questions.
| What appears in the offer | What it can establish |
|---|---|
| Licence record | The medical-board record shows the doctor’s current licence status, along with any public action that board has taken against them. |
| Accreditation | Accreditation means an outside group checks whether a pharmacy follows a set of standards; the pharmacy still needs its licence. |
| Listed with FDA | Registering with FDA puts a business’s details in the agency’s records. As of September 2026, this did not mean FDA had approved the business or its medicines. |
This answers the approval question, rather than judging a particular care service.
Ask about the care plan
Bring questions that reveal the plan.
- What are we trying to change, and how will we judge progress?
- Why is this option a fit for that goal?
- What are the downsides and the other options?
- Who produces the medicine, and who handles sending it?
- What happens if I decide against treatment?
- How do I ask questions between visits?
Save the answers. If a name, fee, or part of the plan is still unclear, ask for it in writing before deciding.
Carry this question forward
What will an ordinary month cost after any opening offer ends?
Put the costs together