Telehealth Consent

1. Introduction

This Telehealth Consent Policy explains how Thrive Rx delivers telehealth services, the nature and limitations of those services, your rights and responsibilities as a patient, and the consent you provide when using our platform.

For information about how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal and health information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

This policy applies to all patients using telehealth services through the Thrive Rx platform and app, and is informed by the following regulatory frameworks:

• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles

• Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) and equivalent state and territory legislation

• Medical Board of Australia Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients (September 2023)

• AHPRA standards and guidelines for registered health practitioners

• Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) and Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990

• Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (2019)

2. Nature of Telehealth Services

2.1 What is telehealth?

Telehealth involves the delivery of healthcare services remotely using telecommunication technology as an alternative to in-person consultations. Our telehealth services include video consultations, telephone consultations, and electronic prescribing of medicines.

2.2 Clinical relationship and practitioner independence

Thrive Rx is a telehealth platform provider and does not render medical or healthcare services or advice directly. All telehealth consultations and medical services accessed through Thrive Rx are provided by independent medical practitioners registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) who hold current medical registration.

By using our services, you acknowledge and agree that:

• Your clinical relationship is established directly and solely with the independent practitioner who consults with you.

• Thrive Rx serves as a facilitating platform to connect you with registered practitioners.

• Responsibility for your medical care, clinical decisions, and prescribing lies solely with the independent practitioner.

• Thrive Rx provides no warranty or guarantee on the quality or clinical appropriateness of any medical services rendered by practitioners.

• To the extent permitted by law, Thrive Rx excludes liability for any injury, loss, or damage arising from medical services, advice, treatment, or referrals provided by a practitioner.

2.3 Appropriate use of telehealth

Our services are designed for adults seeking longevity, wellness optimisation, preventative health, and performance enhancement. Telehealth consultations are most appropriate when:

• You have been assessed as clinically suitable through our screening process.

• Your condition or health goals can be adequately assessed via video or telephone.

• You do not require a physical examination for safe clinical decision-making.

• You have stable health or are seeking preventative and optimisation services.

2.4 When telehealth is not appropriate

You must NOT use telehealth services if:

• You are experiencing a medical emergency or require urgent treatment. Call 000 or attend the nearest emergency department immediately.

• You have a severe or acute illness requiring immediate physical examination.

• Your condition requires procedures that cannot be performed remotely.

• You are located outside Australia at the time of the consultation.

• You have a hearing impairment and cannot access appropriate hearing assistance for the consultation.

Sometimes a practitioner cannot adequately assess your health needs by telephone or video. The practitioner may recommend you attend a medical centre or hospital for a physical assessment. Any such decision is a matter of the practitioner's clinical judgement.

3. Service Limitations and Eligibility

Geographical restrictions: Telehealth services through Thrive Rx are only available to patients physically located in Australia at the time of consultation.

Right to discontinue: You may end a consultation at any time. Practitioners also have discretion to discontinue a consultation or decline to provide treatment for reasons they consider clinically appropriate or necessary for patient safety.

Hearing assistance: If you have a hearing impairment, you are responsible for arranging any hearing assistance required for the consultation.

Excluded services: Telehealth services will not provide workers' compensation assessments, medico-legal assessments, motor vehicle accident assessments, or other assessments requiring physical examination or extended evaluation.

4. Your Responsibilities

4.1 Accuracy and honesty

To ensure the effectiveness and safety of telehealth services, you must provide complete, accurate, and truthful information during the consultation process. You agree to:

• Respond fully and accurately to all questions asked by the practitioner.

• Provide complete information about your medical history, symptoms, current medications (including over-the-counter medicines and supplements), allergies, and any other relevant health information.

• Not omit any relevant information that may affect your treatment.

• Inform the practitioner about any new symptoms or worsening of your condition since your last healthcare appointment.

• Update us if your circumstances change (such as pregnancy, new diagnoses, or new medications).

Failure to provide accurate and complete information may result in inappropriate treatment decisions and may compromise your safety. Practitioners may decline to provide further services until correct information is obtained.

5. Prescribing, Medications, and Treatments

5.1 Clinical discretion

While Thrive Rx provides access to practitioners with expertise in longevity and preventative medicine, the decision to prescribe medication, issue repeat prescriptions, or provide specific treatments rests entirely with the practitioner's clinical judgement. You acknowledge that:

• A practitioner has absolute discretion to refuse to prescribe medication, issue repeat prescriptions, or provide any services or referrals requested by you.

• Prescribing decisions are based on clinical judgement, medical necessity, individual circumstances, safety considerations, and the appropriateness of the requested services.

• Thrive Rx does not warrant or guarantee the safety, appropriateness, or effectiveness of any specific medication or treatment prescribed by a practitioner.

5.2 Restrictions on certain medicines

In accordance with Australian regulations and good medical practice:

• Schedule 8 controlled drugs (such as opioids and stimulants) and Schedule 4D restricted substances will not be prescribed through our telehealth services.

• Practitioners will follow TGA, AHPRA, and PBS guidelines regarding appropriate prescribing.

• Some medications may only be prescribed after specific pathology tests or with particular safeguards in place.

5.3 Off-label prescribing

Some treatments offered through Thrive Rx may involve off-label use of medicines (using medications for purposes other than those approved by the TGA). Where this occurs, your practitioner will:

• Explain that the medicine is being used off-label.

• Discuss the evidence supporting this use.

• Outline potential benefits and risks.

• Obtain your specific informed consent.

5.4 Compounded medicines

Many of the medicines used in longevity and optimisation protocols are compounded by TGA-licensed pharmacies. Compounded medicines are prepared specifically for you and are exempt from ARTG registration requirements under specific conditions. Your practitioner will explain when compounded medicines are being prescribed and why they are appropriate for your treatment.

5.5 Side effects and monitoring

You must immediately report any noticeable side effects, adverse reactions, or concerns about medications to your practitioner. You should schedule a further telehealth consultation or attend your regular primary care centre as soon as possible if you experience any unexpected or concerning symptoms.

Participation in certain treatment protocols requires periodic pathology testing and follow-up consultations to monitor safety and effectiveness. You agree to participate in recommended monitoring as a condition of receiving certain treatments.

6. Pathology, Diagnostic Testing, and Imaging

As part of our comprehensive health assessment and monitoring programmes, practitioners may order pathology tests, diagnostic imaging, or other investigations. You acknowledge and agree:

• To undergo recommended pathology and diagnostic testing as part of your initial assessment and ongoing monitoring.

• To be contacted by practitioners or our clinical team if test results require follow-up discussion.

• That a further consultation may be required to discuss results, in which case you will be invited to request a consultation through the app.

• That practitioners will have access to your test results for clinical decision-making.

• That we will coordinate testing with reputable Australian pathology providers.

To the extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for the services provided by third-party pathology laboratories, diagnostic imaging centres, or other healthcare providers engaged at the referral of our practitioners. However, we endeavour to work with high-quality providers.

7. Fees and Billing

Bulk billing: Where eligible Medicare services are provided, you agree to assign your right to Medicare benefits for those services to the practitioner who rendered the service. Your practitioner will submit a bulk billing claim to Medicare on your behalf after each eligible appointment.

Private services: Many of Thrive Rx's longevity and optimisation services are private healthcare services and are not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. You will be clearly informed of any fees before receiving services.

Prescription coordination fees: Thrive Rx charges an administrative fee for coordinating prescriptions with compounding pharmacies. This fee supports secure data handling, compliance systems, and technology maintenance. The retail recommended price (RRP) of prescription medicines is passed through without markup.

8. Recording of Consultations

Consultations are generally not recorded. If any part of a video consultation needs to be recorded for clinical purposes (such as documenting changes in speech or movement), your explicit written consent will be obtained before recording commences. You will be informed how the recording will be used and stored securely.

If other parties are present during your consultation (such as family members or support persons), their basic details and your explicit consent for their presence will be recorded in your health record.

9. Your Healthcare Rights

Your healthcare rights are protected under the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (2019). You have the right to:

• Access: Healthcare when you need it, regardless of your circumstances.

• Safety: Safe, high-quality care from qualified, registered practitioners.

• Respect: Dignity, and to have your culture, identity, values, and beliefs respected.

• Communication: Clear information about your treatment, options, and costs.

• Participation: To be included in decisions about your care and to have your questions answered.

• Privacy: Privacy and confidentiality of your personal and health information.

• Comment: To provide feedback or make a complaint without it affecting your treatment.

10. Professional Standards and Regulation

All medical practitioners providing services through Thrive Rx are registered with AHPRA and are bound by:

• Medical Board of Australia's Good Medical Practice: A Code of Conduct for Doctors in Australia.

• Medical Board of Australia's Guidelines: Telehealth consultations with patients.

• Relevant professional codes and standards.

• State and territory health legislation.

Practitioners maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance and participate in continuing professional development.

11. Withdrawal of Consent

You may withdraw your consent to telehealth services at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer. However, you understand that:

• Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide you with certain services.

• We may be required to retain certain information for legal, regulatory, or professional reasons even after you withdraw consent.

• Withdrawal does not affect any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you withdrew consent.

For details on how your information is managed following withdrawal, please refer to our Privacy Policy.

12. Questions and Complaints

If you have questions about this policy or wish to make a complaint, please contact:

Privacy Officer Thrive Rx Pty Ltd Email: consent@thriverx.com.au | Web: www.thriverx.com.au

We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 5 business days and aim to resolve complaints within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact:

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC): 1300 363 992 | www.oaic.gov.au

• Health Care Complaints Commission (NSW) or equivalent: 1800 043 159 | www.hccc.nsw.gov.au

• AHPRA: For complaints about practitioner conduct | www.ahpra.gov.au

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by email or through our platform. The current version will always be available on our website at www.thriverx.com.au.

Your continued use of our services after changes are made constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

14. Consent and Agreement

By using Thrive Rx services, registering on our platform, or proceeding with a telehealth consultation, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to:

• This Telehealth Consent Policy.

• The nature and limitations of telehealth services.

• The independent clinical relationship with practitioners.

• Your responsibilities to provide accurate information and participate in recommended monitoring.

You confirm that:

• You are located in Australia at the time of using our services.

• The information you provide is accurate and complete.

• You understand the limitations of telehealth and when it is not appropriate.

• You have had the opportunity to ask questions about this policy and telehealth services.

• You consent voluntarily to telehealth consultations and related services.