Telehealth Consent

What telehealth is

Telehealth is the delivery of clinical care using electronic information and communication technology when the patient and treating clinician are in different physical locations. A telehealth encounter may include medical intake information, photographs, laboratory results, real-time audio or video consultation, secure messaging, clinical recommendations, treatment plans, prescriptions where clinically appropriate, refill reminders, follow-up prompts, and related care communications.

Parties to this consent

Concordia coordinates non-clinical administrative, technology, routing, and support services. Concordia does not provide medical services and is not a party to the clinician-patient relationship. Clinical services are delivered by an independent licensed provider group and its clinicians. Medications prescribed through the platform are dispensed by independently licensed pharmacies. Each provider must be licensed in the state where you are located at the time of consultation and must exercise independent clinical judgment.

Electronic transmissions used in care

Telehealth may involve account creation, identity verification, scheduling, intake forms, health history, photographs, laboratory results, secure clinical review, audio, video, two-way communications, store-and-forward review, secure messaging, prescription refill reminders, follow-up prompts, and other transmissions reasonably needed for clinical care.

Expected benefits

Telehealth may improve access to care, allow evaluation from home or another appropriate location, support convenient follow-up communication, make care management more efficient for conditions that can be appropriately addressed through telehealth, and reduce time and cost associated with travel to in-person appointments.

Potential risks and limitations

Telehealth differs from in-person care. A provider may be unable to perform a physical examination, transmitted information may be incomplete or inadequate, technology may fail, communication may be delayed, and some conditions require hands-on evaluation, diagnostic testing, urgent care, or local in-person care. If transmitted information is not adequate, the provider may reschedule, request more information, decline to prescribe, or recommend in-person care.

Security limitations

The platform and service providers should use reasonable safeguards, but no electronic system is perfectly secure. Messages or attachments sent outside secure platform channels, including unencrypted email or text, may be more vulnerable than secure in-platform communications.

Not for emergencies

Concordia, the platform, and the clinicians providing telehealth care do not furnish emergency medical services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, including severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of stroke, severe allergic reaction, suicidal thoughts, or any condition you believe is life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. In a mental health crisis, you may call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Local primary care remains important

Telehealth is a supplement to, not a substitute for, an ongoing relationship with a local primary care provider. You are encouraged to maintain a primary care provider and seek local in-person care when needed.

Patient acknowledgments

By consenting to telehealth care, you acknowledge that you may be connected to an available provider, that provider identity and licensure information will be made available through the clinical process, that you may decline telehealth and seek in-person care, that you may withhold or withdraw telehealth consent where permitted, and that withdrawal of consent does not automatically cancel medication shipments, billing, or services already provided.

Privacy and medical records

Federal and state laws protect the confidentiality and security of health information. Records of a telehealth encounter may become part of your medical record. Health information may be transmitted to licensed clinicians, pharmacies, laboratories, or other entities involved in care, which may be located in other states. Medical-record requests should be routed through the secure clinical pathway or provider group that maintains the record.

Other people and services involved in care

A person other than your provider may be present or involved to operate telehealth technology, support platform operations, coordinate laboratories, process prescriptions, support pharmacy fulfillment, or assist with non-clinical administration. You may ask about that person's role and may omit personally sensitive details from non-clinical personnel.

Provider explanation and patient questions

Your provider should explain any diagnosis, recommended treatment, risks, benefits, and available alternatives. You have the opportunity to ask questions before deciding whether to proceed.

No prescription guarantee

There is no guarantee that you will be issued a prescription. Whether a prescription is clinically appropriate is the provider's independent determination. If a prescription is issued, it may be filled by a pharmacy engaged through the platform or, where applicable, at a pharmacy of your choice.

Communications consent

You may receive invitations, appointment notifications, clinical reminders, account updates, support responses, refill reminders, and related communications from Concordia, the provider group, pharmacies, and service providers by email, in-platform message, telephone, automated dialing systems, prerecorded or artificial voice messages, and text message where you have consented. Message frequency may vary. Standard message and data rates may apply. You may opt out of non-clinical automated communications without affecting eligibility for care.

Financial disclosures and Open Payments

The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires drug, device, and biologic manufacturers and group purchasing organizations to report certain payments or transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals. Reported information is publicly searchable on the federal Open Payments database maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at openpaymentsdata.cms.gov.

State-specific telehealth disclosures

State-specific records-sharing, complaint-filing, real-time consultation, and patient-rights notices may apply based on where you are located when care is provided. Where a specific state notice is not listed, the general protections in this consent apply.

Alaska

Alaska residents have the right to receive a copy of telehealth encounter records and share those records with a primary care physician. Complaints about an Alaska-licensed clinician may be filed with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.

Connecticut

Connecticut residents have the right to share copies of telehealth encounter records with a primary care physician.

Florida

Florida residents are entitled to protections under the Florida Patient's Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, Florida Statutes Section 381.026.

Iowa

Complaints about an Iowa-licensed clinician may be filed with the Iowa Board of Medicine.

Idaho

Complaints about an Idaho-licensed clinician may be filed with the Idaho Board of Medicine.

Indiana

Complaints about an Indiana-licensed clinician may be filed with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.

Kansas

Kansas law provides that, where a Kansas patient designates a primary care or treating physician and consents to sharing, a report of the telemedicine encounter may be sent to that physician within the required timeframe. Kansas patients who want records shared should provide that clinician's name, practice, and contact information during intake or by secure message.

Kentucky

Complaints about a Kentucky-licensed clinician may be filed with the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.

Maine

Complaints about a Maine-licensed allopathic clinician may be filed with the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine. Complaints about an osteopathic clinician may be filed with the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire residents have the right to receive copies of telehealth encounter records and share those records with a primary care physician or treating provider.

Ohio

Ohio residents have the right to share copies of telehealth encounter records with a primary care physician.

Oklahoma

Complaints about an Oklahoma-licensed allopathic clinician may be filed with the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. Complaints about an osteopathic clinician may be filed with the Oklahoma State Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

Rhode Island

Complaints about a Rhode Island-licensed clinician may be filed with the Rhode Island Department of Health.

South Carolina

South Carolina residents have the right to control distribution of their medical records. With consent, medical records may be distributed to other treating health care practitioners under applicable law.

Texas

Under Texas law, with consent, a copy of medical records from a telehealth encounter may be transmitted to a primary care physician within the required timeframe. Complaints against Texas physicians and other licensees may be reported to the Texas Medical Board, Attention: Investigations, 333 Guadalupe, Tower 3, Suite 610, P.O. Box 2018, MC-263, Austin, Texas 78768-2018. Telephone: 1-800-201-9353. Website: www.tmb.texas.gov.

Vermont

Vermont residents have the right to receive a real-time consultation with the distant-site provider, either at the time of the initial consult or within a reasonable time thereafter. Receiving telehealth services does not preclude future real-time telemedicine or in-person services. Complaints about a Vermont-licensed clinician may be filed with the Vermont Board of Medical Practice or Vermont Board of Osteopathic Examiners.

Acknowledgment

By checking an acceptance box, submitting intake information, or proceeding to consultation, you acknowledge that you have read this Telehealth Consent, had the opportunity to ask questions, and voluntarily consent to receive care through telehealth on these terms.