In a few short weeks, therapists on one of the largest telehealth platforms watched a new per-session fee roll out, then a provider agreement asking for lasting rights to their names, images, and voices, then a pause after the backlash.
A lot of people exhaled. But the agreement that got paused isn’t the one I’m worried about. I’m worried about the ones already sitting in your files: the panel contract, the EHR terms, the directory listing you clicked “accept” on years ago. College athletes are getting paid for their name, image, and likeness before they finish undergrad. Clinicians with master’s degrees are being asked to treat theirs as the cost of doing business. So I recorded a short video on what to look for before you sign anything else, or leave anything behind.
What’s in the video
This isn’t one company. It’s a business model. When growth money needs returns, the terms change. Fees come first, then data, then rights. That’s why it feels like something new every week, and it’s also why you can plan for it.
The 3-question contract audit. Pull every agreement you’ve signed (platforms, insurance panels, your EHR, directories) and look for:
Before you leave, protect your business on the way out. Know your exit terms and your continuity-of-care obligations before you announce anything. Then take anything that worries you to a healthcare attorney. This is a business lens, not legal advice.
What comes next depends on where you are. If you’re solo, it’s about building your own front door. If you run a group, your risk is bigger than it looks, because every dollar that comes off the top comes out of your profit, not just your revenue. I go deeper on both in the full Peace & Profit episode, subscribe today to get notice when it goes live.
When was the last time you read the agreements you’ve already signed?
Calvalyn Day is a business strategist for private practice owners and host of Peace & Profit for Therapists.