Overview
As a licensed mental health provider on the Grow Therapy platform, you are required to conduct all therapy sessions from within the United States. This article explains what that means, why it matters, and the one exception that applies.
Why your physical location matters
Your professional license is issued by a U.S. state licensing board and governs where you can legally practice — not just where your client is located. When you conduct a session, your physical location at the time of that session determines the jurisdiction in which you are practicing.
Practicing from outside the United States raises significant legal and regulatory concerns, including:
Potential violations of your state licensing board's requirements
CMS considers the provider's physical location the site of service for telehealth. Medicare does not reimburse for services rendered by a provider located outside the United States, and submitting claims for sessions conducted abroad may also conflict with state Medicaid program rules — even in states that don't explicitly address international provider locations.
Possible gaps in malpractice insurance coverage, which typically do not extend to practice outside the U.S.
Complications with HIPAA compliance and data privacy obligations
For these reasons, all sessions conducted through Grow Therapy must take place while you are physically located within the United States.
What this means in practice
If you are living or relocating abroad: Permanently or indefinitely residing outside the United States is not compatible with active practice on the Grow Therapy platform. If your primary residence changes to a location outside the U.S., you are no longer eligible to see clients through the Grow platform.
The exception: U.S. military bases
There is one recognized exception to this requirement.
Providers may conduct sessions from a U.S. military installation located outside the United States, provided that:
The provider is located on the military base (e.g., as a military service member or military spouse), or
The client is a military service member or military spouse located on a U.S. military base abroad
U.S. military bases are considered federal U.S. jurisdiction, which means sessions conducted from or to a base location may still fall within the scope of U.S. law and your licensure requirements.
If you believe this exception applies to your situation, please contact Grow Therapy's provider support team before conducting sessions to confirm eligibility.
Temporary travel abroad
If you are temporarily traveling outside the United States (less than 2 months), you may be able to continue seeing Grow clients remotely, but there are several things to verify before doing so:
Licensing: Confirm that your state licensing board permits you to provide telehealth services while located outside the US. Board rules vary.
Malpractice insurance: Check with your malpractice carrier to confirm your policy covers sessions conducted from outside the US. Many policies have territorial limitations.
Privacy and security: You are still responsible for maintaining HIPAA-compliant safeguards during sessions abroad. Use a secure, private internet connection and a private setting — avoid public Wi-Fi and shared or public spaces.
Client safety: Consider whether you can effectively coordinate emergency resources at your client's location in the event of a crisis during a session.
Questions?
If you have questions about your specific circumstances or need to report a scheduling conflict due to travel, reach out to Provider Support via the Help Widget in your portal or in the Grow Provider Community.