Telehealth Agreement

Telehealth at Pasadena Clinical Group ("the Practice") is offered under California Business & Professions Code §2290.5 (which requires written or verbal informed consent for the use of telehealth in clinical care) and is governed by the federal HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules (45 C.F.R. Parts 160–164), the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (Cal. Civ. Code §56 et seq.), the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (Welf. & Inst. Code §5328 et seq.), and other applicable laws. This Telehealth Agreement (the "Agreement") describes the nature of telehealth, your rights and responsibilities, the inherent risks and limits of remote care, and your acceptance of those risks. The information on this page is supplemental and educational; the controlling document is the Telehealth Consent reviewed and signed with your clinician at intake.

1. What telehealth means

"Telehealth" means the delivery of healthcare services through information and communication technologies — primarily HIPAA-compliant interactive video, secure messaging, and (with your express consent) telephone. Telehealth specifically excludes ordinary email, SMS/text, and any unsecured messaging for clinical content. The Practice's telehealth services are functionally equivalent to in-person care for many patients but, as the law and clinical literature recognize, are not equivalent in every clinical situation.

2. Informed consent and your right to in-person care

Before your first telehealth encounter, your clinician will review with you, and obtain your verbal or written consent for: (a) the nature of telehealth services; (b) the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives (including in-person care); (c) the technical requirements; (d) the procedure for handling technical failures; (e) the protections and limits of confidentiality; (f) your right to refuse or withdraw consent at any time; and (g) any cost differences. You may switch to in-person care at any time, subject to clinician availability. Your consent is documented in the medical record as required by Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2290.5(b).

3. Technical requirements; your responsibilities

You are responsible for providing, at your own cost, (a) a private, quiet, secure setting where you cannot be overheard; (b) a stable broadband internet connection; (c) a device with a working camera and microphone; (d) up-to-date browser or app software for our video platform; and (e) a working phone line as a fallback. The Practice uses a Business-Associate-Agreement-covered, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You agree not to attempt the session while driving, operating heavy machinery, in a public place where confidentiality cannot be maintained, or in any condition that would compromise informed participation. If your connection fails, your clinician will attempt to call you at the number on file; you authorize that call. We may switch to phone, reschedule, or, in clinical judgment, end the session.

4. Limits and inherent risks of telehealth — assumption of risk

Telehealth carries inherent risks that you understand and assume. You acknowledge and accept the following:

• Telehealth is not appropriate for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, are at risk of serious self-harm, are experiencing a mental-health emergency, or are concerned about another's immediate safety, do not initiate or continue a telehealth session — call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or call/text 988.
• Some clinical situations are better served in person, and your clinician may recommend or require transition to in-person care.
• Audio or video transmissions can fail, lag, drop, or degrade; there are inherent risks of unauthorized interception, technical malfunction, packet loss, signal hijacking, or third-party intrusion despite reasonable safeguards.
• Information transmitted may be insufficient for clinical assessment in certain situations — for example, where in-person observation, body-language, or physical examination is needed.
• Failure of electronic communication or equipment may delay evaluation and treatment.
• Despite reasonable physical safeguards on our end, you alone control the environment on your end; we cannot prevent another person from overhearing or recording on your side.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, you assume the risk of, and release the Practice and its personnel from liability for, technical failures, third-party interception, and any consequences thereof — except where caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct.

5. Your physical location at session time — California-only

The Practice's clinicians are licensed in California. California licensure does not extend across state lines. You must be physically located in California at the start of and throughout each telehealth session. If you intend to relocate, even temporarily, outside California, you must notify your clinician in advance so we may evaluate alternatives (referral, in-person care, or pause). Misrepresentation of your location is a material breach of this Agreement, may constitute the unauthorized practice of psychology in another jurisdiction, and may result in immediate termination of services and ineligibility to claim any benefit, refund, or recourse from the Practice. You agree to disclose your physical address at the start of each session if asked.

6. Recording strictly prohibited

You agree that you will not, and that you will not permit any person on your end of the connection to, record, screenshot, screen-share, transcribe, or otherwise capture any portion of a telehealth session — by audio, video, or any other means — without the prior written consent of every participant. California is a two-party-consent jurisdiction (Cal. Penal Code §632); recording without consent may give rise to civil and criminal liability and is grounds for immediate termination of services. The Practice does not record sessions.

7. Privacy, confidentiality, and breach notification

Telehealth sessions are protected by the same HIPAA, HITECH, and CMIA confidentiality standards as in-person care, with the same legal limits and exceptions described in our Notice of Privacy Practices and Treatment Consent (mandated child- and elder-abuse reporting, Tarasoff duty to warn or protect, imminent danger, and lawful court orders). In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, you will be notified consistent with 45 C.F.R. §§164.400–414 and Cal. Civ. Code §1798.82.

8. Emergency protocol and emergency contact

You agree to provide, at intake, (a) the address of the location from which you typically conduct telehealth sessions; (b) the name and number of an emergency contact; and (c) the name and number of your nearest emergency department. The Practice may, in clinical judgment and under California law, contact emergency services or your emergency contact if your safety or another's safety is at risk. You acknowledge that the Practice does not provide 24/7 crisis coverage and that, between sessions, your safety plan is to call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or call/text 988.

9. Out-of-state or international travel

If you are physically outside California at the time of a session, the Practice cannot lawfully conduct the session; the Practice will, in those circumstances, reschedule, refer, or, where the clinician is licensed in another applicable jurisdiction, may agree to proceed only on that basis. You alone are responsible for your physical location and for any legal consequences (including, where applicable, taxation, insurance coverage, or local regulatory requirements) arising from your location at the time of a session.

10. Right to refuse or terminate; right to in-person care

You may refuse or withdraw your consent to telehealth at any time, without affecting your right to future care. The Practice may also, in clinical judgment, decline to provide telehealth or recommend transition to in-person care.

11. Costs and insurance

Telehealth services are billed on the same fee schedule as in-person services unless otherwise disclosed. Coverage of telehealth varies by insurer and plan; verify with your insurer before scheduling. You remain responsible for any portion not covered by insurance.

12. Equipment, software, and third-party platform

The Practice uses a HIPAA-compliant third-party video platform under a Business Associate Agreement. The Practice is not responsible for third-party platform outages, defects, or failures, and makes no warranty regarding any third-party service. You agree to comply with the third-party platform's terms.

13. Cybersecurity hygiene

You agree to take reasonable steps to protect your end of the connection, including using a private, password-protected network where feasible, maintaining up-to-date antivirus protection, locking your device when unattended, not sharing meeting links, and not joining sessions on a public/shared network without taking precautions.

14. Acknowledgment, release, and choice of law

By participating in any telehealth session with the Practice, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Agreement; you have had the opportunity to ask questions; you have given informed consent under Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §2290.5; and you assume the inherent risks of telehealth as described above. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you release and hold harmless the Practice, its owners, employees, contractors, students, trainees, and volunteers from any claim arising from technical failure, third-party interception, your inaccurate disclosure of your physical location, or your breach of this Agreement, except where caused by gross negligence, willful misconduct, or matters that cannot be lawfully released. This Agreement is governed by California law and is subject to the dispute-resolution provisions of the Terms & Conditions, including mandatory mediation, then binding arbitration in Los Angeles County, California, with class-action and jury waivers, except to the extent inconsistent with non-waivable rights you have under California or federal mental-health-care law.

15. 7-day-a-week availability

Telehealth is available seven days a week — Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. — for clients physically located in California.

Frequently asked questions

Is telehealth as effective as in-person therapy?

For most adults dealing with stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression, telehealth has shown comparable outcomes to in-person care in research studies. Some clinical situations are better served in person; your clinician will discuss which is right for you.

Do I have to be in California for telehealth sessions?

Yes. California licensure does not extend across state lines. You must be physically located in California at the time of each telehealth session. Tell your clinician in advance if your location will change.

What if my video connection drops?

If the connection fails, your clinician will call you on the number on file and either continue by phone or reschedule. We have a fallback plan ready before every session.

Is telehealth available on weekends?

Yes. Telehealth is available seven days a week — Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Can I record my telehealth sessions?

Sessions may not be recorded by either party without prior written consent. We do not record sessions.

Contact us about this page

Questions, requests, or complaints regarding this policy can be directed to our Privacy Officer, Pasadena Clinical Group, 301 N. Lake Ave, STE 600, Pasadena, CA 91101, by phone at (626) 354-6440, or by email at office@pasadenaclinicalgroup.com.