Async vs Sync Consultations for GLP-1 Telehealth - What’s the Difference

If you’re new to telehealth for GLP-1 prescriptions, you’ve probably seen the terms async and sync consultations and wondered what the difference is.

Sync Consultations

These are live, real-time video visits with a clinician, typically done via Zoom. Because the clinician can see you, interact with you immediately, and confirm your identity and physical presentation, some states require this type of visit to establish care - meaning it’s legally necessary before a provider can start a new prescription or treatment plan.

States that currently require a video consult to establish care for GLP-1s include:

• West Virginia (WV)
• Kansas (KS)
• New Mexico (NM)
• Louisiana (LA)
• Mississippi (MS)

Once that initial video visit has happened and care is established, many states allow follow-ups to be conducted asynchronously.

Asynchronous (Async) Consultations

Async care is not live - you fill out questionnaires, send messages, labs, photos, etc., and the clinician reviews and responds later. It’s more flexible and often faster for follow-ups, dose adjustments, and check-ins because neither party has to be available at the same moment.

Why This Matters

If you live in one of the states listed above, a provider must do a video or phone visit first before prescribing GLP-1 therapy. After that, continued care (like dose monitoring or side effect check-ins) can often happen async.

If you don't live in one of the states listed above, an async consult is typically permitted for the initial appointment.