Telehealth consent form tips
Telehealth consent forms are one of the many intake forms psychotherapists must use with clients. Performing psychotherapy has always been a complicated task as providers must juggle a host of variables - including environment, culture, and techniques - for therapy to succeed. Here are considerations for telepractice that therapists need to be prepared to discuss with their clients.
Summary
- Telehealth consent forms are essential and therapists must provide clients with consent forms outlining teletherapy expectations, limitations, and risks before starting remote treatment.
- Teletherapy can include live video sessions, phone calls, or texting. Clients need clarity on what communication methods are included in their treatment.
- Research suggests teletherapy is as effective as in-person therapy, but clients may still have concerns about its efficacy.
- Clients must ensure they have a quiet, private space, a stable internet connection, and necessary tools for an effective teletherapy session.
- Teletherapy fees are now comparable to in-person sessions, and most insurance providers, including Medicare, cover virtual mental health services. Enrolling in an insurance billing course for therapists can help providers enhance their knowledge.
- Therapists should use HIPAA-compliant teletherapy platforms to ensure client data remains secure and confidential.
Streamline your practice with One EHR
- Scheduling
- Flexible notes
- Template library
- Billing & payments
- Insurance claims
- Client portal
- Telehealth
- E-fax
What to expect from teletherapy
Teletherapy comes in different forms. Is it a live virtual session? A phone call? Texting? Any form of remote therapy utilizing technology is considered teletherapy. Clients need to understand that they may be consenting to one or all of these types of interactions. In addition, what are the limits of communication?
If they text you every day will you respond? How often are live virtual sessions? Can you call in the case of emergencies? The confines of teletherapy are murkier than traditional therapy. New boundaries must be established depending on what type of services you offer.
Is telepractice less effective than traditional therapy?
There is no doubt that teletherapy has many advantages that traditional therapy cannot match. However, clients may be concerned that online therapy is less effective than in-person treatment. Thankfully, you can put your client’s mind at ease. Although it is a relatively new area - and much more investigation is needed - preliminary research suggests that teletherapy is as effective as traditional therapy.
Client responsibilities with telehealth consent
In addition to traditional therapy obligations, such as punctuality and participation, clients are responsible for conditions specifically related to teletherapy. When we are in an office, we take for granted a quiet environment and clear communication. Not so with virtual teletherapy. Clients must ensure they have a secure internet connection, adequate lighting, and a quiet space free of distraction. It also helps if they have a pen and paper to write notes if necessary.
Fees for telehealth consent
A few years ago, clients could expect to pay less for virtual therapy. But, times have changed since the pandemic. Clients can now expect to pay the same for an online virtual session or phone call as they would for an in-person session. Some therapists who have completely online practices, however, may charge less for virtual sessions because they don’t have the overhead costs of maintaining a physical office.
Many online therapy platforms, such as BetterHelp, have a subscription fee for a package of services. This differs from an independent therapist who conducts online therapy. A package may include a specific number of virtual sessions, texts, or phone calls per week with a therapist. Prices will vary according to the services in your subscription.
Practice Management + EHR + Telehealth
Mange more in less time in your practice with TheraPlatform
.
Does insurance cover teletherapy?
One of the biggest disadvantages of online therapy used to be the lack of insurance coverage. Fortunately, most insurance companies (including Medicare), are now covering teletherapy as a valid mental health service. Even teletherapy subscription services are increasingly covered by insurance. To be sure, clients should check with their individual insurance company.
Confidentiality with telehealth consent
The security of personal information takes on a whole new meaning when you consider the transmission of online therapy. Clients need to feel confident that what they divulge in their online sessions won’t end up somewhere on the internet. Additionally, they must understand that online sessions will not be recorded or shared unless consented to beforehand. Therapists should verify they possess a teletherapy platform approved by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Clients must be provided with information about the platform so they can examine it themselves. TheraPlatform is a prime example of practice management and virtual therapy software that is HIPAA-approved.
Right to withdraw from telehealth consent
The client has the right to withdraw from teletherapy at any time without penalty. And, if a therapist conducts in-person therapy and teletherapy, the client has the right to request to switch from teletherapy to being seen in an office. If a therapist only offers teletherapy, and the client no longer wants that format, the therapist can refer them to a clinician who performs in-person therapy.
Technology risks with telehealth consent
The client must be made aware of the risks of conducting therapy online. For example, no virtual therapy is entirely safe from hackers. Plus, interruptions may occur due to the loss of wifi and cellular signals. With a technology snafu, you might not be able to reach your therapist when you need them.
An additional hidden risk of texting is that your written messages might be misinterpreted, leading to an unintended breach of the therapeutic relationship. In short, technology can be both a blessing and a curse.
→ Download My Free Must-Have Technology for a Smooth Therapy Session PDF
Teletherapy is not appropriate for everyone
You may perform an intake and find out that the person requires more intensive treatment than can reasonably be implemented from a remote location. Clients who possess more severe problems and/or a history of emergency situations are better served by a local therapist they can see in-person. This is especially true when a crisis occurs and the individual requires the support of a nearby professional. If a client does not seem to be appropriate for teletherapy, the therapist must inform them and make a suitable referral.
Free Resources for Therapists
Click below and help yourself to peer-created resources:
Emergency response plan for telehealth
Speaking of crises, when a client has an emergency in your office it is a difficult enough situation. But what do you do when someone undergoes a crisis from another location? It is imperative that therapists develop an emergency response plan with their clients when utilizing teletherapy. The plan will be customized to fit the individual; it should generally include their location, coping skills, local emergency contacts, or resources the client can access if those contacts are unavailable (e.g., 911 or telephone hotlines). The bottom line is that you want to make sure the client has options at their disposal nearby to address the emergency.
Streamline your practice with One EHR
- Scheduling
- Flexible notes
- Template library
- Billing & payments
- Insurance claims
- Client portal
- Telehealth
- E-fax
Resources
TheraPlatform is an all-in-one EHR, practice management, and teletherapy software built for therapists to help them save time on admin tasks. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial with no credit card required and supports mental and behavioral health, SLPs, OTs, and PTs in group and solo practices.
More resources
- Therapy resources and worksheets
- Therapy private practice courses
- Ultimate teletherapy ebook
- The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
- The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
- Mental health credentialing
- Insurance billing 101
- Practice management tools
- Behavioral Health tools
Free video classes
- Free on-demand insurance billing for therapist course
- Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
- 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice
References
Pappas, S. (2023, August 1). Online talk therapy works as well as an In-person session, a new study shows. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/online-talk-therapy-works-as-well-as-an-in-person-session-a-new-study-shows/
https://Telehealth.HHS.gov. Creating an emergency plan for telebehavioral health. https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-behavioral-health/preparing-patients-for-telebehavioral-health/creating-a-telehealth-emergency-plan
