Aloha stormer,
Remember that this is your friend's teacher, and he may not have been the inspiration for you if he hadn't had it. It's an opportunity for healing and growing at so many levels. Send energy/healing messages/love to help his system balance, allowing it to take on what it does and doesn't, rather than looking at "fixing" him.
Yes, distance healing can happen whether one is "actively" receiving it, or not.
There are ear suggestions in the Level Two course, which you can do with him when the opportunity arises.
At a Level One level, you can always energetically visualizing and invite him to join you in your active exercises and healing meditation time, then thank him, and send him back to where he belongs.
Much Love, Shawn