Vida Clinical Services and Practice Policies Agreement

Effective: October 31, 2022
Last modified: April 18, 2024

I. GENERAL

Who We Are

The clinical groups providing Services on the Vida Health App include Vida Medical, P.C., a California professional corporation, Vida Medical, P.A., a Kansas professional association, and Vida Medical, New Jersey, P.C., a New Jersey professional corporation (“Vida Clinical”, “we”, “us”, and “our”). Vida Clinical provides technology enabled digital clinical care for patients through its engaged clinicians and sub-clinical specialists with support from its technology partner, Vida Health, Inc. (“Vida Health”). This Agreement describes Vida Clinical’s services and clinical programs, as well as its non-clinical health and wellness coaching programs. It is important for you to read this document and discuss any questions you might have with us.

Our Services and Technology

When you become a member of Vida Clinical (a “Member”), you will be given access to the mobile and web application of Vida Health (the “App”) and our coaches and/or clinicians (“Vida Providers”), depending on the programs you have selected. Details on the credentials and licensure of the Vida Providers will be available to you through the App. The Vida Health App provides access to a library of evidenced-based resources for you, connects you to our Vida Providers, offers simple tools for scheduling appointments, and serves as your hub of information. Your Vida Provider(s) will be with you every step of the way. They work together to support high quality, effective care.

Telehealth Informed Consent: Risks and Benefits

When appropriate, your Vida Provider(s) will provide you with coaching, clinical assessments, and/or treatment via telehealth. The flexibility of telehealth, including communication over video, audio, and messaging, allows for a greater degree of convenience for you, but it also introduces some limitations. Telehealth may not be appropriate for the treatment of certain symptoms or diagnoses that would benefit from an in-person appointment, and it is your Vida Provider’s role to make that determination. Your Vida Provider(s) will make every effort to discuss these concerns with you, but reserves the sole discretion to discontinue services via telehealth if necessary.

The systems we use for services delivered via telehealth have network and software security protocols to protect the confidentiality and safety of member information. The telehealth services will be delivered over a secure connection that complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”). Even with these security measures, in very rare events security protocols could fail, causing a breach of privacy of protected health information. Additionally, as described below and with your consent, we may at times communicate with you through unsecure SMS (short message service) text messaging and email.

Nutrition Support and Medical Nutrition Therapy

Vida coaches and Registered Dietitians provide nutrition support for many of Vida’s programs. When a member requires Medical Nutrition Therapy (i.e., nutrition-based treatment), it will be provided by a Registered Dietitian (“RD”) in accordance with state licensure requirements. RDs are food and nutrition experts who have met the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s criteria to earn the RD/RDN credential. Vida coaches work under the supervision of RDs to provide support to members seeking improved wellness.

Care Navigation

Vida’s Care Navigators are licensed mental health professionals who provide members with mental health assessments, suggestions, and connection to resources. For example, a Care Navigator might provide a member with a screening for mental health symptoms, review the member’s mental health history, and/or inform the member about beneficial Vida programs or local community resources. Vida Providers will refer members to meet with a Care Navigator when appropriate.

Emergencies

Please note that we do not address medical emergencies via telehealth. If you need medical help right away, please call 911. Or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you are having a mental health crisis, call or text the free 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have hearing loss: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988. By signing this form, you agree not to use the Vida Health app or messaging for any urgent care or emergency communication or service. Vida Clinical may contact outside emergency services, provide referrals to outside services, and/or contact a designated emergency contact person on your behalf if there is a concern related to your safety or the safety of others. Vida Clinical may contact an emergency contact person you have designated to support you in getting connected to the proper medical care or support.

Video and Audio Recordings

With permission, in certain cases we may make video or audio recordings of your telehealth session. Those recordings may be used internally for treatment, quality improvement, and care coordination purposes in accordance with our privacy policies.

Privacy and Disclosures of Health Information

In general, the privacy of all communications between a Vida Provider and a Member is protected by law, and your Vida Providers can only release information about your treatment to others with your written permission (including the permissions granted in this Agreement) or as otherwise permitted by law. For more information about how your information may be used or disclosed, see our Privacy Policy and Notice of Privacy available at vida.com.

By checking the box on the previous screen (the “Let’s set up your account” screen), you are consenting to allow us to share your health information with the following individuals under the following circumstances:

  • With your other health care providers, either directly or through our participation in health information exchanges, for healthcare coordination, operations and treatment purposes. This may include information relating to substance abuse, mental health, and other health conditions.
  • As otherwise permitted in our Notice of Privacy and by applicable law.

By checking the box on the previous screen (the “Let’s set up your account” screen), you are consenting to allow us to receive your health information from other health care providers and payers that is relevant for your treatment with your Vida Provider.

Text Messaging and Email

From time to time, we may provide you with messages such as appointment reminders, service announcements, privacy notices, administrative messages, and other communications relating to our provision of services to you. This may include short message service (SMS) text messages, and emails. Text messages and emails are not always secure because they travel over networks that we do not control.

By checking the box on the previous screen (the “Let’s set up your account” screen), you are authorizing us to send you SMS text messages and emails. You are under no obligation to give us this authorization and may opt out at any time by texting in words “STOP,” “QUIT,” “UNSUBSCRIBE,” “OPT-OUT,” or “CANCEL.“, or contacting support@vida.com.

Terms and Conditions of Use

This Agreement should be read in conjunction with our Terms and Conditions of Use, available at vida.com, which contains critical information about (i) costs and fees, (ii) payment policies, including insurance billing and assignment of benefits, where applicable, and (iii) member cost-sharing obligations (i.e., copayments and deductibles).

Complaint Policy

All members have the right to communicate grievances regarding the services they receive from Vida Clinical. Report a concern by sending an email to our Quality Assurance team at qavida@vida.com.

II. VIDA’S PROGRAMS

THIS AGREEMENT APPLIES TO EACH OF THE VIDA PROGRAMS LISTED BELOW. TAP THE PROGRAM NAME TO VIEW THE INFORMATION ABOUT EACH VIDA PROGRAM IN WHICH YOU ARE ENROLLING. THIS INCLUDES A PROGRAM DESCRIPTION, EXPECTATIONS, AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM. BY CHECKING THE BOX ON THE PREVIOUS SCREEN (THE “LET’S SET UP YOUR ACCOUNT” SCREEN), YOU INDICATE THAT YOU HAVE REVIEWED THIS PROGRAM INFORMATION AND UNDERSTAND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION.

III. AGREEMENT AND CONSENT

If you have questions about any of the contents of this Agreement, our procedures, or your role in this process, please discuss them with your Vida Provider or contact support@vida.com. Remember that the best way to assure quality services is to keep communication open and direct with your Vida Provider(s).

By checking the box on the previous screen (the “Let’s set up your account” screen), you indicate that you have read and understood this document, and that you agree to abide by its terms. Further, you certify that if you are signing as a personal representative of the Member, you have legal authority to provide consent for the provision of services to the Member.