Board executive committee grants two telehealth exemptions and denies several other requests

The State Board of Medical Licensure executive committee on Zoom approved two telehealth exemptions and denied several other requests during a meeting that centered on how Mississippi rules apply to remote supervision.

The committee voted to grant an exception to the board’s 80/20 rule for Dr. Rohit Jesudas of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, allowing nurse practitioners licensed in Mississippi to provide follow‑up telemedicine care to pediatric hematology patients at a Tupelo telehealth clinic. Dr. Jesudas said the program reduces travel burdens for families and helps patients remain on hydroxyurea, the primary disease‑modifying therapy for sickle cell disease. "I'm requesting an exception for the 80 20 rule," he told the committee, and outside counsel described the request as served "for good cause," noting the nurses and physician are licensed in Mississippi and the clinic performs same‑day vitals and some lab draws locally.

The committee also approved exemptions requested by Dr. Shamalyn Johnson, who described her role as medical director of an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit in Meridian and said she reviews notes, signs admissions and participates in weekly treatment planning via the hospital’s EPIC system. Johnson asked for relief from the 80/20 rule and the 75‑mile requirement so she may supervise two Mississippi‑based nurse practitioners who provide inpatient care; a motion to grant her request passed on a voice vote.

Not every request succeeded. The committee denied a request by a…