Policies governing your use of Tether Health and our commitment to protecting your information.
Tether Health, Inc. ("Tether Health," "we," "us," or "our") provides a referral management and specialist discovery platform for healthcare providers through our website and software services (collectively, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you use the Services, visit our website, or otherwise interact with us.
The Services are directed towards healthcare provider customers and their authorized staff. Before using the Services or submitting any personal information to us, please review this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the Services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
We collect personal information when you create an account, request a demo, contact us, or otherwise provide information to us. This may include your name, email address, phone number, job title, practice name, NPI number, professional credentials, mailing address, and billing information.
When you use the platform, we collect data necessary to operate the referral management and specialist discovery features:
Health data: Our healthcare provider customers share patient information with us through referral forms, intake forms, insurance documentation, and other standard healthcare forms. We process this information on their behalf to automate referral routing, status tracking, and appointment scheduling. We apply HIPAA privacy and security standards to all health data we receive and process it pursuant to our Business Associate Agreements.
Patient communications: If you are a patient of one of our healthcare provider customers and receive text messages or emails regarding your referral status or appointment scheduling, we collect your responses and related scheduling information on behalf of that provider. These communications are sent only with appropriate consent and in compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
We may create de-identified or aggregated data that cannot reasonably be used to identify any individual. De-identification is performed using the Safe Harbor method defined under HIPAA (removal of the 18 specified identifiers). We may use de-identified data for research, product development, refining our algorithms and machine learning models, analytics and benchmarking reports, aggregate referral pattern analysis, and public reports on referral trends containing no individually identifiable information.
We may share de-identified and aggregated data with partners and third parties. This data is non-personal information and is not subject to the restrictions on PHI described in this policy.
We use cookies and similar technologies to operate our website, analyze usage, and improve your experience. For details, please see our Cookie Policy.
We use analytics services, including PostHog, to understand how visitors use our website. These services use cookies to collect information in aggregate form. No PHI is transmitted to analytics services. Our website currently does not respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals.
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
We do not sell personal information. We share it only with consent, as necessary to provide the Services, or as required by law.
When Tether Health processes PHI on behalf of a healthcare provider, we do so as a Business Associate under HIPAA and HITECH. Our obligations regarding PHI are governed by the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, the HITECH Act, and our Business Associate Agreement with the applicable healthcare provider. We apply the minimum necessary standard to all PHI we access.
For patients: If you are a patient whose information has been processed through our platform as part of a referral, your rights regarding your health information (including the right to access, amend, and receive an accounting of disclosures) are exercised through your healthcare provider. Your provider's Notice of Privacy Practices describes your rights in detail.
We use a combination of technical, administrative, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including:
While we take reasonable measures to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the right to know the categories of personal information we have collected, to access the specific pieces of personal information we hold, to request deletion (subject to legal retention obligations), to correct inaccurate information, and to opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information).
Residents of certain states (including California, Virginia, Colorado, and Connecticut) may have additional rights under their state's privacy statute. To exercise any privacy right, please email support@tetherhealth.co.
The Services are directed to healthcare professionals and are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us immediately and we will promptly delete that information.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the revised version on this page and update the "Last Updated" date. For material changes, we will provide additional notice. Your continued use of the Services after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the changes.
These Terms of Service ("Terms") are a legally binding agreement between you and Tether Health, Inc. ("Tether Health," "we," "us," or "our") governing your access to and use of the Tether Health platform, website, and related services (the "Services"). By accessing or using the Services, you agree to these Terms. "You" refers to the individual using the Services and, if applicable, the healthcare practice or entity on whose behalf you act.
The Services are intended for licensed healthcare providers, authorized practice staff, and healthcare organizations in the United States. By registering, you represent that you are at least 18 years old, have authority to bind the practice or organization you represent, and that the information you provide is accurate and complete. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.
Tether Health provides a referral management and specialist discovery platform. The Services may include referral creation, submission, and tracking; specialist directory search; referral status updates and loop closure; patient communication tools; analytics and reporting; and EHR integrations.
You may use the Services solely for legitimate healthcare operations. You agree not to:
Use of the Services involving PHI requires a fully executed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) between your practice and Tether Health. The BAA is incorporated into these Terms by reference. As a Covered Entity, you are responsible for ensuring your use complies with HIPAA, including obtaining necessary patient authorizations. You agree to include only the minimum necessary PHI in referrals transmitted through the platform.
If you enable patient-facing communications through the Services (such as referral status text messages or appointment notifications), the following requirements apply:
Tether Health provides the infrastructure for consent management, message delivery, and opt-out processing, but you are responsible for ensuring consent is properly obtained before enabling patient communications.
Certain features require payment as described in your subscription agreement or order form. Fees are billed monthly or annually as specified. All fees are non-refundable except as expressly stated or required by law. We may change fees upon 30 days' prior written notice. Failure to pay may result in suspension of access. You are responsible for applicable taxes.
Our intellectual property: The Services, including all software, technology, designs, and content (excluding your data), are owned by Tether Health and protected by intellectual property laws. We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Services in accordance with these Terms.
Your data: You retain all ownership rights in the data you input into the Services. You grant us a limited license to use, process, and store your data solely to provide the Services and as described in our Privacy Policy.
Aggregated and de-identified data: We may create aggregated or de-identified data derived from use of the Services. Such data does not identify any individual or practice. We may use it for product improvement, analytics, benchmarking, and other lawful purposes.
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TETHER HEALTH DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
Tether Health is not a healthcare provider and does not provide medical advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of specialist directory listings. We are not responsible for clinical decisions, referral appropriateness, or patient outcomes associated with referrals made through the platform.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TETHER HEALTH SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Tether Health, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from claims arising out of your use of the Services in violation of these Terms, your violation of any law or regulation, the content or accuracy of data you submit, or your failure to obtain required patient consents.
These Terms remain in effect until terminated. Either party may terminate upon 30 days' written notice for any reason, or immediately upon material breach that is not cured within 30 days of notice. Upon termination, your access will be deactivated, PHI will be returned or destroyed per the BAA, surviving provisions remain in effect, and your data will be available for export for 30 days.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Disputes shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Delaware.
Entire Agreement: These Terms, the Privacy Policy, the BAA, and any order form constitute the entire agreement between you and Tether Health. Amendments: We may modify these Terms by posting the revised version. Material changes will be communicated with at least 30 days' notice. Severability: If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full force. Waiver: Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of that provision. Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset sale. Force Majeure: Neither party is liable for delays due to events beyond reasonable control.
Tether Health, Inc. operates as a Business Associate under HIPAA and the HITECH Act. We provide referral management services to healthcare providers ("Covered Entities") and process protected health information (PHI) on their behalf.
As a Business Associate, Tether Health:
If your information was transmitted through our platform as part of a referral:
If you are interested in using Tether Health:
For a detailed overview of our security architecture, visit our Security page.
In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, Tether Health will notify the affected healthcare provider(s) without unreasonable delay as required by HIPAA and the applicable BAA, so that the provider can fulfill its notification obligations to patients and regulators.