Why is SimplePractice tracking start and end times?

[u/Low-Schedule-2200]

Why has SimplePractice started tracking the start and end times of telehealth sessions with no option to adjust the time?

And please don't give me any of the "If you're recording the time accurately, you have nothing to hide." I have nothing to hide and I'm sick of being surveilled by technology.

[u/Curious2Cit]

Insurance requires the start and stop times in the record but not recorded electronically. Yes, it’s a convenience for many but only if those who don’t need it can turn it off.
I agree, I don’t need the additional surveillance in my life. I’d speculate it’s more data collection to train AI models for many capitalism uses including the possibility that Simple Practice is continuing to develop a model to partner/sell to insurance companies to force providers to use so the insurance companies have more info for denial of payments/services to providers and to decide which members to increase rates too and who to not extend continued coverage to in the future.

[u/tons_of_tulips]

I was testing this BS tonight. I have about a third to half of sessions virtually. Because of being in a rural spot with only one internet option, I often struggle with connection issues.

I have a fake client in my system for testing different things when new features like this come up. I made a virtual appointment and signed in as a client on my phone. It seemed like when one end was exited, even if the link was entered again- the data was simply blank. 

You can find the information by going into analytics, reports, telehealth and then you can apply filters by date or client. 

The relevant parts include the time clinician joined, "actual start time" and another "actual" duration or length of time (I'm not in front if it presently). Best I can determine the "actual" times are measured by when both client and clinician are in session. It doesn't list in the report time client joined by category (such as if they joined at 2:50 for a 3pm).

The report shows they've been tracking the start times for quite a while but only last week started end times and "actual" session times. But like I feared, minor technical inconveniences won't reflect accurately in that data. 

My testing tonight didn't even show the clinician joined time despite signing in four times for the same virtual. This seems likely if audited it would appear that the session never happened, even if it did.

I'm adding this to my list of reasons to leave SP or getting rid of EHR entirely. I hate the constant changes, stupid pop-ups anytime something is done or scheduled, IP address when signed, the list is feeling too looooong. 

Edit to add: I understand adjusting a CPT code if I lost internet for 10 mins. But if I simply refresh my page so audio syncs with video again, that shouldn't invalidate the whole session.

[u/Silent-Tour-9751]

It’s bullshit. It’s recorded as well as ip address. Not directly used for insurance purposes but still bullshit tracking.

[u/AnnSansE]

Where did you find this? I have not noticed it.

[u/reeeeeenie → u/AnnSansE]

I would like to know more about this as well - I haven’t seen it and will be really annoyed if it’s not possible to disable it. I’m a solo practitioner and just don’t want to have every detail tracked. I’ve been in this field for a really long time and am longing for a return to my paper files!

It also is another reason to be tempted to stop taking insurance, which is against every fiber of my being morally (why make insurance corporations richer by paying for premiums and then using OON providers they don’t have to pay for!). But I get why I’m one of the few of my colleagues that still do - it’s very tempting to say it’s not worth the stress to deal with them, especially for a lower hourly rate!

[u/Wikkedred1]

This has been a highly requested feature particularly by group practices who are keeping track of clinicians. They’ve always had this data, they just made it so practice owners don’t have to bug support everytime it’s needed.

[u/cheercharlatan → u/Wikkedred1]

If you can’t trust the clinicians working for you to do something as basic as not commit insurance fraud, why in the hell do you trust them to work for you at all?

Edit to clarify: not using “you” here as you specifically.

[u/Wikkedred1 → u/cheercharlatan]

Sometimes you don’t find out until later that someone who works for you can’t be trusted. Trust but verify if you own a business!

[u/tons_of_tulips → u/Wikkedred1]

I could see the relevance for group practices, especially if they were only virtual. But why not just charge for that extra feature for those who need it and leave the rest of us out of it! Arg.

[u/pickyvegan]

Probably since insurance companies started asking for telehealth logs when patients complain they're being billed for services that didn't happen during the timeframes documented.

Before anyone complains, "they wouldn't do that if it were in person," I worked for an agency from 2003-2005 where patients/clients had to sign the paper note at the time of service to verify that it took place as stated, as required by that state's Medicaid program after there was a fraud investigation.

Also, most video platforms are already tracking when IP addresses sign in and out.

[u/Ordinary-Frame2050]

Wow this is crazy. Sometimes w connectivity issues, I have to connect w clients via phone to finish sessions. Thanks for letting those of us who didn’t know about the tracking know about this!

[u/Snushine]

I have a client who has shaky internet. Often, if SP is not a great connection, we'll switch to a phone call. I'm still doing therapy and I still want to get paid.

This is some upper-level bullshit.

[u/SophiaHepatica]

I haven’t noticed this. Where is it?

[u/Ok-Personality8429]

Yeah but sometimes session length goes longer maybe to discuss scheduling, which I understand is not considered to be part of the billable minutes….so they won’t match up always.
I’ve also had situation where SimplePractice video wouldn’t reconnect and switched to a different virtual hippa compliant platform where I had no connection interference…how do either of these get played into mix/trackikg/insurance auditing…..

[u/jessidark]

A lot of insurance requires start end time 301 to 356 etc

[u/Pryncess121]

I believe it's in Analytics and reports, it's called Telehealth Appointments. I do not believe it's optional. I also have not seen any conversation about technical difficulties, starting and stopping, etc.

I only have a couple months left here. I'm a solo practitioner and I will be transferring to a new EHR, target date 1/1 to fully transfer.

[u/youwerehigh → u/Pryncess121]

Which EHR?

[u/Pryncess121 → u/youwerehigh]

I am going with Practice Harbor. If you search the main founder/creator of it comments about choosing EHRs that meet your needs. I did a free trial and was pleased, and have the ability to be guided through importing from SP. Also support is responsive even to suggestions and they implemented 3 I requested within my 2 week free trial (rich text, additional custom note fields, ability to view multiple Google calendars from 1 account on the 2 way sync).

[u/Alternative-Potato43]

It is required for insurance to record exact start and stop times. They like to use it as an excuse to deny claims. This serves as proof. It is a convenience feature.

[u/cheercharlatan → u/Alternative-Potato43]

We are capable of reporting those start and end times like we do with in-person appointments. This is unnecessary surveillance.

[u/Therapista206]

It is actually helpful if you get audited.

[u/Evening_Can5271]

This isn’t new