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Obtaining informed consent for telebehavioral health

You may be required to get your patient’s official informed consent when they make a telehealth appointment. Patients can give informed consent through signed paperwork, completed before the appointment and/or through verbal consent, taken at the beginning of each session.

Informed consent laws — and the minimum age for consent — also vary by state.

Here are a few basic steps for informed consent:

• Explain what the patient can expect from the telehealth visit — including potential risks.
• Explain their rights as a patient.
• Explain to minors what information may be shared with parents or guardians.
• Check-in with the patient about their responsibilities during a telebehavioral health visit. Include specific steps like wearing headphones and finding a place to be alone during the visit to ensure privacy.
• Ensure that all compliance documentation, including required informed consent, has been delivered, and document verbal consent during check-in.

Tip: Make sure to have your medical and intake forms reviewed by your legal team.

More about informed consent:

• Informed Consent   – from the National Policy Center - Center for Connected Health Policy
• Current State Laws & Reimbursement Policies   — from the National Policy Center - Center for Connected Health Policy
• How to Obtain Informed Consent for Telehealth — from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Easy-to-Understand Telehealth Consent Form — from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality