Specialistmd

Find Help

Privacy Policy

COMMITTED TO PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY

Specialistmd is committed to maintaining your privacy and we take our responsibility for safeguarding your Protected Health Information (PHI) very seriously. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) governs how Specialistmd may use and disclose PHI, including information like medication history, conditions, and plan information.

SECURING YOUR DATA IS A TOP PRIORITY

To keep your data secure and protected, Specialistmd is committed to meeting the privacy protection standards required by federal and state law.

HIPAA-COMPLIANT TECHNOLOGY

Your personal data is secured by HIPAA-compliant technology. PHI is encrypted and protected by Specialistmd’s extensive data security and privacy measures. Consistent with our commitment to protecting patient data, Specialistmd is compliant with HIPAA and all other applicable laws and regulations.

Security & privacy

How does Specialistmd protect my health data?

Specialistmd protects your health data by strictly adhering to the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA governs what  and third-party healthcare providers can do with your Protected Health Information (PHI) and this includes information like your medication history, conditions, and treatment plan information. We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your health information.

How is my health information used?

Specialistmd uses your health information (such as your history, diagnoses, treatments, current condition, and use of prescription medications) to provide healthcare services to you via third-party healthcare providers. Specialistmd works with healthcare providers to provide you with  services using your PHI. Each healthcare provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices governs the use of your PHI when you receive treatment from that provider. Please see your treating healthcare provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices, available to you on your provider’s Consents and Notices page, for more information on HIPAA, PHI, and how you may access your PHI.

How does Specialistmd protect my information?

information that you provide to Specialistmd is protected by our practices and by law. Specialistmd complies with HIPAA and has high standards and practices for data privacy as we keep your personal information secure. At Specialistmd, your data is protected through the use of strong, HIPAA-compliant encryption methods.

What data does Specialistmd collect?

Specialistmd collects data for your virtual health visit and this includes information about your visit , as well as basic information like your name, date of birth, health information you provide via your intake form, and your payment information.

 

Terms & conditions

Specialistmd Terms of Use

Last Updated: June 1, 2023

Thank you for using Specialistmd. Specialistmd is a virtual healthcare storefront through which services are offered by individual third-party healthcare providers and provider groups (collectively, “HCPs”). Specialistmd makes website features and other products and services available to you when you visit the Specialistmd website, use Specialistmd products or services, interact or communicate with an HCP via our website, or interact or communicate with Specialistmd. 

These Specialistmd Terms of Use supplement the terms and conditions set forth in the Conditions of Use and Privacy Notice. Before using Specialistmd services, please read the Conditions of Use, Privacy Notice, and these Terms of Use (collectively, the “Agreement”). By using Specialistmd Services, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of the Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of the Agreement, you may not use Specialistmd Services; instead, you may work directly with participating HCPs.

Specialistmd SERVICES

Through Specialistmd, physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners practicing on their own or who are employed and/or contracted by HCPs that are provider groups (“specialist”) offer services. Specialistmd does not practice medicine or nursing, and does not interfere with or otherwise influence the specialist’ exercise of their professional judgment in providing healthcare services. Each specialist is responsible for exercising their own professional judgment and complying with all requirements applicable to their profession and license.

PRIVACY OF YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Protected Health Information (“PHI”) is defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (commonly referred to as HIPAA), and includes information such as a person’s history, diagnoses, treatments, current condition, and use of prescription medications. On the Specialistmd storefront, HCPs will collect or use your PHI to provide you with services. As a service provider to the HCPs, Specialistmd will receive certain PHI to enable those services. When PHI is collected or used by an HCP (or is received by Specialistmd in its capacity as a service provider to an HCP) it is governed by the HCP’s Notice of Privacy Practices, and not the Privacy Notice. Please see the HCP’s Notices of Privacy Practices for more information on HIPAA, PHI, and how you may access your PHI.

ELIGIBILITY/AVAILABILITY

You may only use Specialistmd Services if you are eligible. By using Specialistmd Services, you acknowledge and agree that  you will pay directly for any services provided and products or drugs to you; and HCPs will not bill any other third party, including a federal or state healthcare program, for such services or drugs or products. For more information on Specialistmd Services’ current eligibility criteria, please visit our FAQs. We reserve the right to make changes to our eligibility criteria at any time. In the event that you lose eligibility for Specialistmd Services we may suspend your access to Specialistmd Services, but you may still access your PHI in accordance with your chosen HCP’s Notice of Privacy Practices. 

Certain Specialistmd Services are currently available in a limited service area. Through the Specialistmd website and/or the mobile application we determine which Specialistmd Services are available to you, based on your location. You agree to refrain from using any technology or technique to obscure or disguise your location when using Specialistmd Services.

HEALTH-RELATED CONTENT

For health-related content provided by Specialistmd and not directly from an HCP, we try to be as accurate as possible, however such content is for reference only and describes general principles of healthcare and side effects related to common medications, and are not specific instructions for individual patients. If you have any questions about health-related content, please contact us or reach out to your HCP.

PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS

You are responsible for payments for Specialistmd Services. If there is a problem charging your selected payment method for a purchase, we may charge any other valid payment method.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH Specialistmd SERVICES

You consent to receive communications (including emails, texts, mobile push notifications, or notices and messages on the Specialistmd website, or through other Specialistmd Services) by or on behalf of Specialistmd to any email address, phone number, or mobile device associated with your account or otherwise directly or indirectly provided to Specialistmd. Communications we send to you may include information about your treatment, or benefits, and, in connection with such communications, we may use pre-recorded/artificial voice messages and/or automatic dialing devices. If you choose to share access to your mobile phone, carrier account, email, or personal identification number with others, those individuals might also be able to see this information. Our HCPs’ Notices of Privacy Practices provide more information on how you may receive communications from us and from the HCPs with whom we work.

REFUNDS

Please see Specialistmd help content for information about refunds.

OTHER INFORMATION

The Privacy Notice governs all information gathered by Specialistmd that is not PHI (for example, version and time zone settings, device type, or operating system associated with the mobile application).

CONSENT TO CARE

On the Specialistmd virtual healthcare storefront, each HCP must obtain a patient’s consent in order to provide services. You will have the opportunity to review your chosen HCP’s patient consent for treatment (“Informed Consent”) prior to seeking  services from that HCP. If you do not accept the Informed Consent, the HCP will not be able to provide  services to you.

PRICING OF SERVICES

The total cost for the visit you choose, based on the HCP you choose, will be provided to you prior to engaging in the visit. By electronically consenting to receive a  service, you are agreeing to pay all applicable charges for that service, regardless of the treatment outcome. At this time, insurance is not accepted for services provided through Specialistmd.

TERMINATION

Specialistmd may terminate your rights under this Agreement without notice if you fail to comply with any of its terms. Further, Specialistmd may terminate or suspend your access to and use of the Specialistmd Services and/or your Specialistmd profile without notice, for any reason, at any time. In case of such termination, Specialistmd may immediately revoke your access to Specialistmd services without refunding any fees. If your Specialistmd profile is suspended or terminated, you may still access your PHI in accordance with your chosen HCP’s Notice of Privacy Practices. Specialistmd’s failure to insist upon or enforce your strict compliance with this Agreement will not constitute a waiver of any of its rights.

MODIFICATIONS

We reserve the right to make changes to or end the Specialistmd Services at any time. We also reserve the right to make changes to the Agreement at any time, and your continued use of Specialistmd Services following the posting of changes to this Terms of Use Agreement means that you continue to agree to its terms, including the Specialistmd help content, and all other applicable rules, policies, and terms posted on the Specialistmd website. If any of these terms is deemed invalid, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that term is deemed severable and will not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining terms.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY FOR HCP SERVICES

HCPS ARE THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES. Specialistmd HAS NO RESPONSIBILITY OR LIABILITY FOR HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN HCP. EACH HCP MAY CHANGE OR DISCONTINUE ITS HEALTHCARE SERVICES AT ANY TIME, AND Specialistmd HAS NO OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO YOU. Specialistmd HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY HEALTHCARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY AN HCP AND OBTAINED THROUGH THE Specialistmd SERVICES.

DISPUTES

This Agreement is governed by law, without reference to its conflict of law rules. Each party agrees to exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue in the federal and state courts.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Specialistmd HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY FOR UNAVAILABILITY OF Specialistmd SERVICES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY TERMS IN THE Specialistmd CONDITIONS OF USE OR THIS AGREEMENT, AND UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL Specialistmd AGGREGATE LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR YOUR USE OF THE Specialistmd SERVICES EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500).

Specialistmd HIPAA Authorization

AUTHORIZATION FOR USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION TO Specialistmd SERVICES and affiliates. 

This is an Authorization for Use and Disclosure of Protected Health Information (the “Authorization”) in compliance with federal privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HIPAA”).

  1. Authorization for the Use or Disclosure of PHI

I authorize any physician, health care professional, laboratory, pharmacy, or other health care provider that has provided health care treatment or services to me or my dependent within Specialistmd (“HCP”) to disclose certain Protected Health Information that I or my dependent provides or receives through Specialistmd about me or my dependent (“PHI”) to Specialistmd and its affiliates, including but not limited to Specialistmd for the purposes described in this Authorization. 

The information that any HCP is authorized to disclose to Specialistmd includes the following PHI:

  1. Contact Information (for example, email address); 
  2. Demographic Information (for example, date of birth);
  3. Account and Payment Information (for example, insurance information); and
  4. My complete patient file, including and billing records related to the services that any HCP provides to me through Specialistmd.

Specialistmd may retain, use and disclose this information:

  1. In the event an HCP who has provided services to me no longer offers services through Specialistmd, for the purposes of coordinating healthcare services on my behalf; and 
  2. To allow Specialistmd to update my Contact Information and Demographic Information for use in relation to any Specialistmd services, for example, to use Contact Information and Demographic Information to facilitate services from other providers.
  1. Important Information About Your Rights

I understand that:

  1. This Authorization is voluntary. Refusing to sign this Authorization will not prevent me from obtaining health care services from any HCP that provides services through Specialistmd by reaching out to the HCP directly. Information about how to contact an HCP directly can be obtained here.
  2. I may revoke this Authorization at any time by sending a written revocation notice to Specialistmd using the instructions found here. The revocation will not have any effect on any disclosure that any HCP took in reliance on this Authorization before receiving my revocation notice.
  3. Information disclosed pursuant to this Authorization may be re-disclosed by the recipient, and this redisclosure will no longer be protected by HIPAA. 
  4. I have a right to a copy of this Authorization.
  5. This Authorization expires five years after I cease to receive any services from any HCP through Specialistmd.

Revoke HIPAA Authorization

To revoke your HIPAA Authorization, email your request to us. Make sure to include your name, date of birth, address, and phone number, or fill out the revocation form and send it as an attachment to your email.

Vitruvian Informed Consent and Notice of Privacy Practices

Please find Vitruvian’s consents and notices here.

Lymemd Informed Consent and Notice of Privacy Practices