Telehealth FAQs

HIPAA-compliant telehealth is included in both the Essential and Plus Plans. If you select the Starter Plan, you can add Telehealth for only $15 per month. 

SimplePractice is HIPAA compliant and HITRUST certified. The HITRUST framework is the gold standard of security certifications in the healthcare industry. You can learn more about all the ways we keep customer and client data safe.

To provide HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions, you will need the following:

• A computer (laptop or desktop) or smartphone. Newer devices (purchased in the last two years) will be better equipped to provide telehealth sessions.
• An integrated or external microphone.
• An integrated or external web camera.
• An internet connection that is at least 10 Mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 Mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.

Connection problems can be caused by a variety of outside factors such as low quality, older equipment, or an overloaded computer (i.e. too many programs running). In general, poor video quality is attributable to a poor internet connection.

Here are some basic steps that can improve the overall quality:

• Use wired Ethernet instead. Wifi will work, but you may experience a lag or some interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. A wired Ethernet internet will give you a smoother, more consistent experience.
• Test your internet connection speed. Use our built-in Internet Quality Check before each session.
• Close other programs. To minimize disruption, close out all other programs running in the background. Adjust your lighting. Small lighting tweaks can make a big impact. Avoid any backlight and make sure your camera is at eye level.

No, your clients can join a session by simply clicking the link you provide them. No password or login necessary. Clients can download the mobile app if they prefer to use a mobile device rather than a laptop or desktop computer for their session.

Yes. We offer a free, secure, HIPAA-compliant Android and iPhone app.

The following organizations provide resources to help you learn more about your state’s specific policies and regulations:

• The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP)
• American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Policy Center
• The National Telehealth Policy Center’s state map

Navigating telehealth reimbursement can be very tricky. In order to find out more about your specific state’s telehealth rules, here are a few resources:

• The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) publishes an annual report that has up-to-date reimbursement policies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
• American Telemedicine Association (ATA) also provides a map showing which states reimburse telehealth services.
• Your local state board will have resources and information on how telehealth reimbursement policies relate to your specific license type (LMFT, LPC, etc.).
  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Medicare Telehealth Payment Eligibility Analyzer allows you to check if specific addresses are eligible for Medicare telehealth reimbursement.

When billing insurance, we recommend that you always check with the individual insurance payer to determine whether telehealth services are covered and, if they are, which codes or modifier should be used for different types of services.

It’s very important to check directly with the insurance payer because coverage for telehealth services is constantly changing.

Clinicians must be licensed in each state in which they want to provide telehealth services.

Some states do not require consent, while others may require verbal and/or written consent to be stored in the client’s record.
Here’s how to find out what your state requires:

1. Go to The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center’s state map.
2. Select your state and scroll down to the Consent section. Here you’ll be able to see whether state law requires you to get client consent, and if there are any corresponding requirements for state Medicaid programs.

Here are a few sample consent forms collected from various online sources. These are for informational purposes only, so it is your responsibility as the provider to update the content to meet your specific states’ requirements.

• Consent for Telemental Health Services
• Consent to Participate in Telemedicine Consultation
• Consent to Participate in Telemedicine Consultation (Spanish Version)
• Telebehavioral Health Institute Informed Consent Library

The age at which a person may lawfully consent to care varies depending on the health condition at issue, the person’s state of residence, or the state in which the patient is located in during the time of the telehealth session. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the rules for the state in which the client is physically located in during the time of the session.

Yes, it’s possible to use only Telehealth by SimplePractice. To do so, sign up for the Starter plan and add Telehealth as an add-on. You can also get telehealth as part of the Essential and Plus plan for no additional fee. We recommended taking the time to consolidate the tools used to manage client health information into one platform to make it easier.

Yes. We are fully compliant with the requirements put forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the ICD-10 mandate.