How does American Telehealth Review score telehealth providers?

Every provider is scored on a uniform v3.0 six-pillar rubric: Clinical Quality (25 points), Pricing & Value (20 points), Patient Experience (15 points), Safety & Compliance (15 points), Transparency (15 points), and Continuity of Care (10 points). Total possible score is 100 points.

How often are scores updated?

Every provider is fully re-scored every 90 days. Material events such as pricing changes or FDA actions trigger an off-cycle re-scoring within 14 days.

Can providers pay to improve their score?

No. The v3.0 rubric is applied uniformly across all providers. Pillar weights cannot be modified, and Editor's Pick selection is based exclusively on score plus qualitative review.

Journal · Patient questions

What Patients Should Ask Before Starting Online Weight-Loss Medication

The key questions to ask before starting online weight-loss medication: eligibility, side effects, pricing, pharmacy, support, and cancellation terms.

Published by Ranika Editorial Group LLCUpdated June 1, 2026

Direct Answer

What should I ask before starting online weight-loss medication?

Before starting online weight-loss medication, ask: Am I medically eligible and is a clinician reviewing me? What are the side effects and contraindications? What is the true monthly cost at maintenance dose? Which pharmacy fills the prescription? What support is included? And how do cancellations and refunds work? Clear answers are a sign of a trustworthy provider.

Disclaimer: American Telehealth Review is an editorial resource and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved finished drug products and should only be prescribed when clinically appropriate by a licensed healthcare provider. Brand-name medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are FDA-approved under their own applications. Compounded semaglutide and compounded tirzepatide are not FDA-approved finished drug products.

Questions to ask

Am I eligible, and who reviews my eligibility?
What are the common side effects and who should avoid this medication?
What is the all-in monthly cost at maintenance dose?
Which pharmacy compounds and ships my medication?
What ongoing support is included?
How do cancellation and refunds work?

Bring the answers together

Use these answers with the evaluation checklist and an independent price index before deciding.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a prescription for online weight-loss medication?

Yes — a clinician licensed in your state should evaluate eligibility and prescribe when appropriate.

How do I compare the real cost?

Ask for the maintenance-dose all-in monthly price and compare across providers.

Sources

U.S. FDA — Medications containing semaglutide and tirzepatide (fda.gov).
Federation of State Medical Boards — Telemedicine policy resources (fsmb.org).
U.S. FDA — Compounding and the FDA (fda.gov).