No. You do not need a medical license to refer customers to telehealth through a program like MedStands, because referring is a marketing activity, not a medical one. You share a link or a QR code, licensed providers and licensed pharmacies handle everything clinical, and you earn a fixed marketing fee for the people who sign up through you.
That distinction matters, so let's walk through exactly why no license is required, who does carry the clinical responsibility, and what your role actually looks like day to day.
Referring is marketing, not medicine
The reason a medical license is not required is simple: you are not practicing medicine. You are not evaluating anyone, prescribing anything, or handling medication. You are pointing interested people toward a licensed telehealth platform and getting credit when they enroll.
Think of it the way you would think of any referral relationship. When you recommend a restaurant, you are not cooking the food. When you refer someone to telehealth, you are not delivering the care. There is no clinical work, no inventory, no prescribing, and no fulfillment on your end. The business or affiliate never touches medication at any point in the process.
Because your part is limited to sharing and attribution, the licensing requirements that apply to clinicians and pharmacies do not apply to you. MedStands is not a medical practice and does not prescribe. It connects people who are curious about telehealth with the licensed professionals who can actually help them.
Who actually does the clinical work
Every part of the medical process is handled by licensed professionals. Licensed providers do the prescribing, and licensed pharmacies do the fulfillment, refills, and shipping. The platform itself is LegitScript-certified, which is a recognized standard for legitimate telehealth and online pharmacy operations.
This is the part that keeps your role clean. You never make a clinical judgment, because you are not qualified to and you are not asked to. When someone you referred wants care, a licensed provider reviews their request. Every request is reviewed by a licensed provider, and not everyone qualifies. You have no say in who is approved, and that is exactly how it should be. Your job ends at the referral. The care begins with the professionals who are licensed to provide it.
If you want the full breakdown of that division of labor, see Who Handles the Prescribing and Shipping in a Referral Program?.
How a referral works in practice
The mechanics are straightforward. As a partner or affiliate, you get a QR code and a personal link. You put the code on a flyer, a counter card, or your social channels, or you send the link directly to people who might be interested.
When someone signs up through your code or link, they are attributed to you. That attribution is what connects a new customer back to your account. From there, the licensed telehealth side takes over completely. The person creates an account, answers health questions, and has their request reviewed by a licensed provider. If they qualify and become an active customer, you earn a fixed marketing fee for them.
That fee is set in advance. It is not a commission, not a percentage, and not a share of sales. It is a flat marketing fee paid to your bank every month for as long as that referred person keeps actively using the platform. Partners earn a fixed monthly fee per active customer, and affiliates earn recurring lifetime marketing fees on the same principle.
What you are responsible for, and what you are not
Your responsibilities are limited to the marketing side: sharing your code or link honestly and letting people decide for themselves. You are not responsible for eligibility, dosing, shipping, refills, or any clinical outcome.
Because your role is so contained, this is best understood as a referral opportunity, not a medical business and not a franchise. There is nothing to buy, no medication to stock, and no provider to hire. If you have ever wondered how a non-clinical business can participate in telehealth without becoming a clinic, read How to Offer Weight-Loss Treatments Without Becoming a Medical Practice.
Common questions
Does it cost anything to join?
No. It is $0 to join. There is no setup fee, no monthly fee, and nothing to buy. You get a QR code and a link, and you start sharing.
Do I have to do any clinical work?
None at all. There is no clinical work, no inventory, no prescribing, and no fulfillment. Licensed providers and licensed pharmacies handle the entire medical process. You never touch medication.
Who decides whether someone qualifies for treatment?
A licensed provider does. Every request is reviewed by a licensed provider, and not everyone qualifies. You cannot influence who is approved, and you are not expected to.
Is the fee a commission?
No. It is a fixed marketing fee set in advance, paid monthly for as long as each referred person stays active. It is not a commission, a cut, or a percentage of anything.
Ready to start referring?
If you can share a link or display a QR code, you can participate without a medical license. Explore the MedStands partner program to see how businesses earn a fixed monthly marketing fee for the people they refer, and browse partner programs by industry to find the fit that matches your customers. It is free to join, and the licensed professionals handle everything on the clinical side.