Puerto Rico built its telemedicine framework on Ley 168-2018, the law governing the use of telemedicine and telehealth on the island. Under the original scheme a physician needed a Puerto Rico licence and a separate telemedicine Certification from the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica, applied for by sworn affidavit.
Ley 8-2025, approved 11 April 2025, changed that. It amended articles 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Ley 168-2018 and added a new article 13, so that any physician or health professional authorized to practise in Puerto Rico may provide consultations without obtaining an additional Certification. The definition of “Certificación” in article 2 was updated to match.
The catch
The relief runs to practitioners already authorized to practise in Puerto Rico. A practitioner licensed only in a mainland or federal jurisdiction still requires the Certification to operate on the island.
So the amendment is good news for an operator who was going to get Puerto Rico licences anyway, and no news at all for one hoping to serve the island from the mainland on a Florida or Texas licence. See why a mainland licence does not reach Puerto Rico.
Why this is easy to get wrong
Compliance content ages badly, and territory content ages worst of all. A guide written in 2024 describes a certification requirement that no longer applies to the practitioners you would actually use; a guide that noticed the 2025 change may still not have caught the limit on who benefits.
This is the same failure mode we see with Oregon’s SB 951 and Vermont’s H.583: recent statutes with staged effects, summarised once and then repeated.
What has not changed
- A Puerto Rico licence from the Junta, created under Ley 139-2008, is still required to practise medicine on the island.
- Medical services still need appropriate clinical oversight and a good faith examination.
- Puerto Rico is a separate jurisdiction with its own board, statutes and language of record.
Practical step
If Puerto Rico is on your map, license there rather than looking for a route around it. The 2025 amendment makes the licensed path meaningfully simpler, which is an argument for taking it.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What did Puerto Rico Ley 8-2025 change?
Approved 11 April 2025, it amended Ley 168-2018 so that physicians and health professionals authorized to practise in Puerto Rico no longer need a separate telemedicine Certification.
Who still needs the Certification?
Practitioners licensed only in a mainland or federal jurisdiction.
Is a Puerto Rico licence still required?
Yes, from the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica under Ley 139-2008.
Which articles were amended?
Articles 2, 4, 5 and 6, with a new article 13 added.
General information about Puerto Rico requirements, not legal advice. Confirm your obligations with the Junta de Licenciamiento y Disciplina Médica and counsel licensed in Puerto Rico.