What is Telehealth Services Agreement Drafting?
A telehealth services agreement is a contract that specifies terms and conditions for delivering healthcare remotely. Some activities that might be included in this agreement include virtual healthcare consultations.
If you need to draft a telehealth services agreement, you might wonder how to navigate the process.
Read on for clarity about the information to include in a telehealth services agreement, how to draft it, and when to hire a qualified lawyer for help with the telehealth services agreement drafting process.
What are Key Terms to Include in a Telehealth Services Agreement?
Your telehealth services agreement should include the following essential terms:
- Services scope. The specific medical and healthcare services that will be offered must be included.
- Technical specifications. This includes information about the devices or software required to use the telehealth services.
- Confidentiality. Since video or phone consultations will be included, there must be provisions for how to keep information private.
- Payments. This explains how fees are paid.
- Informed consent. The patients must understand all the benefits and risks of remote healthcare.
- Service Level Agreement (SLA). There must be quality control for system maintenance and uptime to encourage patient confidence in the services.
- Term. The agreement should include the effective start date when the agreement begins and how long it will last.
- Termination. This specifies how parties can end the agreement.
What are Tips for Telehealth Services Agreement Drafting?
Writing a telehealth services agreement requires details and clarity to prevent privacy violations and other legal disputes. Here’s what to consider during the contract-drafting process.
Provide Healthcare Obligations
The agreement must include information about the healthcare company’s responsibilities, such as that they have control over all services provided to the patient and all treatments that will be offered, as long as they are aligned with relevant laws.
Safeguard Privacy
The agreement should explain how personal health information is going to be gathered, stored, and used during its term. Privacy and confidentiality provisions must be compliant with all relevant laws. Be specific about what activities require privacy rules, such as how consultations and sharing information is handled.
Mention Technology Requirements
Since telehealth services will be conducted online, there are tech requirements that must be met. This can include the patient using specific devices and software to use the services. It should be stated that it’s the patient’s responsibility to have stable technology that works.
Detail Payment Terms
The telehealth services agreement must include payment terms that are clearly defined and specific. They should include consultation fees, payment deadlines, and how cancellations can be refunded. By being comprehensive with payment terms, the agreement will prevent ambiguity that can lead to disputes.
Include the Jurisdiction
Consider where the healthcare provider is licensed to practice and relevant laws that rule the agreement. This will ensure your terms are clear and legally sound to protect you against legal disputes.
Explain Details for Patients
The patients using the services must be informed of how the services will work, their benefits and limitations, and any potential risks. This will protect the company against claims and disputes, while ensuring transparency between parties.
Should You Hire a Lawyer for a Telehealth Services Agreement?
Although you can draft a telehealth services agreement, you should consider working with a qualified lawyer so that the contract is clear, fair, and legally sound.
A lawyer can help you in various ways, such as by:
- Using their legal knowledge to keep the agreement compliant with all relevant healthcare laws.
- Clearly defining the services scope, along with any limitations.
- Addressing licensing requirements. A lawyer will check that all terms reflect the healthcare provider’s licensing duties and consider what happens if they’re practicing across jurisdictions.
- Protecting patient privacy, such as by including data security and confidentiality provisions.
- Allocating responsibilities correctly so that all rights and obligations are properly defined. This lowers the risk of vague expectations and misunderstandings.
- Setting payment terms that are fair and comprehensive, such as by considering what happens with missed payments.
- Resolving disputes between parties with strong clauses for how conflict must be handled.
- Customizing the agreement terms according to the type of telehealth practice. They will strive to reflect the healthcare provider’s services and business model.
- Reviewing a telehealth services agreement that you’ve already drafted, giving you peace of mind that it’s clear, reasonable, and protects your interests.
Where to Find a Lawyer for Telehealth Services Agreement Drafting
It’s not always easy to find the right lawyer for your legal requirements. This is why using an online legal platform can assist you. It gives you quick access to a range of qualified lawyers in your area who are experienced in contract drafting and review.
ContractsCounsel is one of the largest online legal marketplaces that provides you with a network of vetted lawyers. If you need to ask one of the lawyers on the platform to draft your agreement, here are the easy steps to follow online.
- Go to the ContractsCounsel marketplace.
- Post your project for free. Try to include a few details about your project to help you find the most suitable lawyer, such as what services you’ll provide under the agreement.
- Receive lawyer bids. You won’t just receive one lawyer bid but multiple bids from lawyers directly on the platform who have the experience to help you. This prevents you from having to search for a reputable lawyer.
- Review the lawyers’ profiles. After getting bids, you can review the lawyers’ profiles by using ContractsCounsel data. This includes the lawyers’ location, client ratings for previous projects, expertise, and credentials.
- Connect with a lawyer you think is best suited to your requirements and hire them to draft your telehealth services agreement for a flat fee.
