The Federal Trade Commission’s latest lawsuit alleges that telehealth pioneer Hims & Hers engaged in all of those tactics, running afoul of U.S. consumer protection laws.
Hims has disputed the government's claims, calling them “an effort to generate headlines at our expense.” [...] Sep 13
Americans often assume that any personal health information they share is protected by HIPAA, the federal privacy law that governs the handling of medical information. But the law generally only applies to specific types of health businesses, including medical offices, hospitals and insurers, not telehealth companies offering prescriptions, counseling, DNA tests and other online services. [...] “There’s an entire universe of companies collecting huge amounts of consumer health data every day that aren’t covered by our current health sector-specific laws,” said Andrew Crawford, an attorney with the nonprofit Center for Democracy and Technology.
Here are some things to know before signing up for a telehealth service:
Nearly all telehealth visits begin with a questionnaire in which users provide details about their medical history and possible medications they’re interested in.