State Resources Directory¶

Overview¶

Regulations, licensing, and resources vary significantly by state. This directory provides guidance on finding state-specific information essential for starting and operating a DPC practice.

Important: This directory provides guidance on WHERE to find information, not the information itself. State regulations change; always verify current requirements with official sources.

How to Use This Guide¶

For each state you practice in (or plan to practice in), you need to research:

1. DPC-specific laws - Is there enabling legislation?
2. Medical licensing - State medical board requirements
3. Business registration - Secretary of State requirements
4. Corporate practice - Any restrictions on medical practice ownership
5. Insurance regulation - State insurance department stance on DPC

Key State Resources by Category¶

Medical Licensing¶

Find your State Medical Board: - Federation of State Medical Boards directory: Contact a State Medical Board (fsmb.org blocks automated requests, so link checkers report 403; the page opens in a browser) - Or search "[State] Medical Board" or "[State] Board of Medical Examiners"

What to check: - License status and renewal - Practice notification requirements - Supervision requirements (if hiring NPs/PAs) - Telehealth rules - Advertising restrictions - Documentation requirements

Board of Pharmacy (Dispensing)¶

Find your State Board of Pharmacy: - National Association of Boards of Pharmacy directory: Boards of Pharmacy

What to check: - Whether physicians may dispense, and any registration or permit - Labeling, record-keeping and inspection rules - Prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) registration

See Dispensing Medications and your state guide before calling the board.

Business Registration¶

Find your Secretary of State: - Search "[State] Secretary of State Business" - National Association of Secretaries of State: nass.org

What to check: - Entity formation requirements (LLC, PLLC, PC) - Name availability and registration - Annual report requirements - Registered agent requirements - Fees and timelines

DPC Legislation¶

Research approach: - Read the kit's State DPC Laws Overview (statute table with links, checked 2026-09-22) and your state guide - Check the statute on the state legislature's own site - DPC Frontier's state pages and the DPC Coalition's model legislation - Consult a healthcare attorney

What to find: - Whether DPC-specific legislation exists - Required disclosures in DPC agreements - Service limitations (if any) - Fee limitations (if any)

Insurance Regulation¶

Find your State Insurance Department: - Search "[State] Department of Insurance" - NAIC directory: naic.org

What to check: - Any guidance or rulings on DPC - Confirmation DPC is not regulated as insurance - Any registration or disclosure requirements

Tax and Revenue¶

Find your State Tax Authority: - Search "[State] Department of Revenue" or "[State] Tax Commission"

What to check: - State business tax requirements - Sales tax applicability (usually medical services exempt) - Payroll tax requirements (if hiring)

State-by-State Quick Reference¶

Finding Your State's Information¶

For each state, search for:

States with DPC Legislation¶

As of 2026, 33 states have a DPC statute; Washington's (RCW 48.150, 2007) was the first. The full table, with a link to each statute and its year, is maintained on one page so it is not duplicated here: State DPC Laws Overview. Note that Oregon and Washington regulate DPC through the insurance code rather than exempting it, and that Connecticut and Hawaii have no DPC statute despite older summaries saying otherwise.

States Without Specific DPC Laws: DPC operates in every state. Where there is no statute, practices rely on general medical practice law and, in some states, an insurance-department opinion. Your state guide says which applies.

Corporate Practice of Medicine by State¶

This doctrine affects who can own a medical practice.

States usually cited for strong restrictions: California, Texas, New York and Illinois (see the State DPC Laws Overview). Most other states have some form of restriction; a few allow broad non-physician ownership.

Action: Research your specific state; consult a healthcare attorney before choosing an entity or bringing in a non-physician owner.

Medicare Considerations by State¶

Medicare rules are federal, but implementation involves state carriers:

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs): - Different MACs serve different states - Opt-out procedures go through your MAC - Find your MAC: Who are the MACs (CMS) - Opt-out procedure: Medicare Opt-Out Guide

State Medical Association Resources¶

State medical associations often provide: - Practice startup resources - Attorney referrals (healthcare law) - Legislative updates - Advocacy on DPC issues - CME and education

Finding Yours: - Search "[State] Medical Association" - Or "[State] Academy of Family Physicians" - Or the AAFP chapter page

Research Checklist: State Requirements¶

Use this checklist when researching your state:

Licensing¶

• Verified medical license current and in good standing
• Reviewed practice notification requirements
• Understood supervision requirements (NP/PA if applicable)
• Reviewed telehealth regulations
• Checked advertising rules

Business Formation¶

• Researched entity requirements for medical practices
• Checked corporate practice of medicine rules
• Confirmed entity naming requirements
• Reviewed annual filing requirements

DPC Specific¶

• Determined if DPC-specific legislation exists
• If yes, read the actual statute
• Identified required disclosures
• Confirmed no conflicting insurance regulations
• Documented compliance approach

Other Regulatory¶

• Confirmed state business tax requirements
• Reviewed sales tax applicability
• Checked any local business license requirements
• Confirmed DEA registration addressed
• Reviewed PDMP requirements

Getting Help¶

Healthcare Attorneys¶

How to Find: - State bar association referral - State medical association referral - DPC community recommendations - Search "[State] healthcare attorney"

What to Look For: - Healthcare law specialization - DPC/physician practice experience - Licensed in your state - Reasonable fees for startup review

Accountants/CPAs¶

What to Look For: - Healthcare practice experience - Familiarity with entity structures - Understanding of medical practice accounting - Local knowledge

Staying Current¶

State regulations change. Stay informed: - Join state medical association - Follow state DPC community - Monitor legislative sessions - Maintain relationship with healthcare attorney - Participate in national DPC organizations (they track state issues)

Resources¶

• State-by-State DPC Guides - The kit's guide for each state
• State DPC Laws Overview - Statute table and legal framework
• FSMB: Contact a State Medical Board - Medical board directory
• NABP: Boards of Pharmacy - Pharmacy board directory
• NAIC: Insurance Departments - Insurance department directory
• NASS - Secretaries of State
• DPC Alliance - Physician membership organization
• DPC Coalition - Policy advocacy and model legislation
• DPC Frontier state pages - Independent state-by-state summaries

Important Disclaimer¶

This directory provides general guidance for research purposes. It is not legal advice and may not reflect current state requirements.

Always: - Verify information with official state sources - Consult with a healthcare attorney licensed in your state - Confirm current requirements before making decisions

Read through and figures checked on 2026-09-23.

Next Steps¶

• Read your state guide, then research the agencies listed here
• DPC Organizations - Connect with community resources
• State DPC Laws Overview - Legal framework