HIPAA Compliance for Telehealth Startups (New Telehealth Practice)

Telehealth startups have unique HIPAA requirements. Here's what you need to know.

Telehealth is growing fast. But if you're starting a telehealth practice, you need HIPAA compliance from day one. Video platforms, patient consent, session security, and data transmission all have specific requirements.

Why Telehealth Startups Are Different

Telehealth practices face unique challenges:

• Video platform security: Must use HIPAA-compliant platforms
• Patient consent: Special consent requirements for telehealth
• Session recording: If you record sessions, additional requirements
• Data transmission: Patient data transmitted over internet must be encrypted
• BAAs with platforms: Must have BAAs with video platform providers
• State regulations: Some states have additional telehealth requirements

The problem: Most telehealth startups don't realize they need HIPAA compliance until they get an audit notice or have a breach.

Telehealth Startup HIPAA Checklist

1. Privacy Policies

Required:

• Privacy Notice (Notice of Privacy Practices)
• Patient authorization forms
• Telehealth consent form (special requirements)
• Minimum necessary policy
• Patient rights documentation

Telehealth-specific:

• Telehealth privacy policy
• Session recording policy (if applicable)
• Communication policy (email, text, phone)
• Platform security policy

2. Security Policies

Required:

• Security policies covering all three safeguard categories
• Access control policies
• Encryption policies
• Workstation security policies

Telehealth-specific:

• Video platform security
• Session encryption
• Data transmission security
• Mobile device security (if using mobile devices)

3. Business Associate Agreements (BAAs)

Telehealth startups typically need BAAs with:

• Video platform providers (Zoom Healthcare, Doxy.me, etc.)
• EHR providers
• Cloud storage providers
• IT support companies
• Billing services
• Marketing agencies (if they handle patient data)

Most telehealth startups miss: BAAs with video platform providers.

4. Telehealth Platform Selection

Requirements:

• HIPAA-compliant platform
• BAA available
• End-to-end encryption
• Access controls
• Audit logs

HIPAA-compliant platforms:

• Zoom Healthcare (with BAA)
• Doxy.me (with BAA)
• VSee (with BAA)
• SimplePractice (with BAA)

NOT HIPAA-compliant:

• FaceTime
• Skype (consumer version)
• Google Meet (without BAA)
• WhatsApp

5. Patient Consent for Telehealth

Required:

• Written consent for telehealth services
• Explanation of telehealth risks and benefits
• Patient acknowledgment of platform limitations
• Documentation of consent

Most telehealth startups fail: Not getting proper patient consent or not documenting it.

6. Risk Assessment

Telehealth-specific risks:

• Video platform security
• Session encryption
• Data transmission security
• Patient device security
• Network security
• Session recording storage

Required: Annual risk assessment documenting all risks and mitigation strategies.

7. Staff Training

Required:

• HIPAA training for all staff
• Training on telehealth-specific requirements
• Training on platform security
• Training records maintained
• Annual refresher training

Most telehealth startups fail: Incomplete training records or missing annual training.

Common HIPAA Violations in Telehealth Startups

Based on OCR enforcement data:

1. Non-compliant platforms (78% of violations)

   • Using FaceTime or Skype
   • No BAA with platform provider
   • Unencrypted video sessions

2. Missing patient consent (68% of violations)

   • No written consent for telehealth
   • Incomplete consent documentation
   • No explanation of risks

3. Inadequate security (61% of violations)

   • Unencrypted data transmission
   • Unsecured session recordings
   • No access controls

4. Missing BAAs (72% of violations)

   • No BAA with video platform
   • No BAA with EHR provider
   • No BAA with cloud storage

How to Get Compliant

Step 1: Choose HIPAA-compliant platform

• Research HIPAA-compliant platforms
• Verify BAA availability
• Test platform security
• Get BAA signed

Step 2: Create required policies

• Privacy Notice
• Security policies
• Telehealth policy
• Breach response plan
• Risk assessment

Step 3: Get patient consent

• Create telehealth consent form
• Explain risks and benefits
• Get written consent
• Document consent

Step 4: Get BAAs in place

• Identify all vendors handling PHI
• Get BAAs signed (especially video platform)
• Maintain BAA records

Step 5: Train your staff

• Initial HIPAA training
• Telehealth-specific training
• Platform security training
• Annual refresher training
• Document all training

Step 6: Organize documentation

• Central location for all HIPAA documents
• Easy access for audits
• Version control

HIPAA Hub for Telehealth Startups

What you get:

• ✅ All 9 required HIPAA policies (customized for telehealth)
• ✅ Telehealth consent form template
• ✅ BAA templates for video platforms
• ✅ Risk assessment tool (telehealth-specific questions)
• ✅ Staff training modules
• ✅ Evidence vault (organize all documentation)
• ✅ $499/year

Value: Telehealth-specific compliance without hiring a compliance officer ($50-100k/year).

Get Your Telehealth Startup HIPAA Checklist

Download the complete checklist with telehealth-specific requirements:

Related Resources

• Complete HIPAA Compliance Guide
• HIPAA Requirements for Telehealth
• HIPAA Audit Checklist

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This guide is based on OCR enforcement data and HIPAA regulations. For personalized compliance guidance, consider using HIPAA Hub.