|
Update on CareDash and BetterHelp Concerns
 From the NASW
Office of General Counsel
(11:57 am, 8-5-2022)
We previously informed you of our concerns about the posting of psychotherapists’ profiles, without their knowledge or consent, in soliciting business for online psychotherapy platforms.
As a result of our actions and your response, NASW is currently engaged in productive discussion with BetterHelp regarding this practice.
Thanks to all of you for your attention to this issue. We will provide you with an update on this matter next week.
Statement from CareDash (via Twitter)
8/5/2022. 4:55pm
Clinical Social Work Alert: Deceptive Business Practice from CareDash/BetterHelp
Initial communication that went out on 8/3/2022
NASW-Michigan and NASW have received reports that two large healthcare online platforms – CareDash and
BetterHelp –
are involved in a practice we find deceptive, which may be harming thousands of social workers and their prospective clients. If you have been affected by this practice, we encourage you to file a complaint with the state attorney
general’s office and/or the Federal Trade Commission.
CareDash acts as a healthcare review website for a wide variety of providers, including clinical social workers, providing information on patient reviews, disciplinary actions and other issues. According to its website, CareDash “is a solution for patients looking for transparent and trustworthy information about healthcare providers, practices and hospitals in their area.” BetterHelp, according to its website, is the largest online therapy platform worldwide. The site states that BetterHelp matches individuals with therapists that fit their objectives, preferences and issue areas.
As many of you already know, CareDash has created and posted on its website profiles of thousands of clinical social workers around the country -- without their knowledge or consent. (The profiles are created from public records, including NPI records.) It has done so for the purpose of driving prospective clients of these therapists to BetterHelp for referrals to other therapists who are participating providers with BetterHelp, or to CareDash itself for referrals to its participating therapists.
Please see the alert here,
including guidance on filing complaints, provided by the Office of General Counsel in NASW’s National Office (NASW National). That office has sent letters to CareDash and BetterHelp demanding they immediately discontinue the practice.
NASW National has received no response from CareDash and an inadequate one from BetterHelp. NASW National itself has already filed a complaint about this matter with the FTC.
We ask that any social worker who files a complaint with the FTC and/or the state attorney general’s office inform us of the following: the agency(ies) where it was filed, the date, and the response received, if any. This information should be emailed to legal.nasw@socialworkers.org and copy mbrann.naswmi@socialworkers.org.
If you are a clinical social worker who would like to discuss this more we invite you to join our Clinical/Private Practice Workgroup this Friday, August 5, from 10-11:30am. Click here to RVSP.
Thanks so much for your help with this critical concern.
Duane Breijak, LMSW-Macro
Executive Director.
NASW-Michigan
NASW works hard to advocate for members and the social work profession. If you are not a member of NASW, please join today!
|
Print Page
Email to a Friend
