Who checks health and writes the prescription?
The prescriber is the person who writes your prescription. Ask whether they are a doctor or a nurse practitioner.
The term nurse practitioner means a nurse who can check patients’ health and write prescriptions under state rules.
As of September 26, 2026, some states let these nurses prescribe on their own; others require an agreement with a doctor.
Ask for the person’s name, job title and state licence details. Ask which state board keeps that licence record.
A doctor’s licence status and any publicly reported punishment appear in the state medical board’s records. State medical board directory
A record that lists no punishment gives no measure of the quality of a doctor’s care.
State boards are grouped in the Federation of State Medical Boards, which supplies the directory. Open your state’s board and search the person’s name.
What can I expect from the health check?
Bring a list of the medicines you now take, your goal and the questions you need answered. Ask how they will learn about your health and arrange an exam or tests if needed.
Telehealth means care discussed by video, phone or an online form.
Phone and video visits must be as careful and complete as visits in person, says the Federation of State Medical Boards. Medical boards: telehealth guidance
If the visit cannot provide the care you need, the group says it must be done another way.
These are the boards’ recommendations; each state sets the rules that must be followed.
As of September 26, 2026, the rules for online prescribing vary by state for forms, video and phone calls.
Ask how to reach the person who checks your health if questions come up after the visit. Ask who will explain any change to the plan.
How do I check the pharmacy?
Ask which pharmacy prepares the medicine, rather than stopping at the service’s name.
The US Food and Drug Administration is abbreviated FDA.
To look up a pharmacy’s state licence, use the FDA’s links; it advises against online pharmacies absent from state records. FDA: find a pharmacy licence
A pharmacy’s licence record confirms its licence, without proving that it handles and supplies medicines properly.
Compare the pharmacy’s name with the label and the state’s record. Ask the pharmacy who prepares the medicine and who can answer product questions.
Which questions do I want to take?
Mark the questions that matter to you. Bring any unanswered questions to the visit.
Choose questions to build your list.