Telehealth Platform Costs Decoded: What $60K, $150K, and $300K Actually Get You
"How much does it cost to build a telehealth platform?" gets asked constantly. The answer you'll hear: "It depends."
January 8, 2025 14 min read
"How much does it cost to build a telehealth platform?" gets asked constantly. The answer you'll hear: "It depends."
Here's what it actually depends on: do you want basic video appointments, or a comprehensive platform with scheduling, EHR integration, prescribing, and billing? Are you HIPAA compliant from day one, or adding compliance later? Are you building for 100 patients or 100,000?
We've built telehealth platforms at every price point. The difference between a $60K build and a $300K build isn't just polish. It's fundamental capabilities that determine whether your platform can actually serve patients and scale.
The $60K Telehealth Platform
Timeline: 6-8 weeks
Team: 1-2 developers
What you get: Basic telehealth MVP for initial validation
Core Features at $60K
Video consultation infrastructure:
HIPAA-compliant video: Integration with a compliant video SDK like Agora or Twilio Video with proper encryption and session management
Appointment scheduling: Basic calendar interface for providers to set availability and patients to book slots
Patient intake forms: Simple forms for collecting basic health information before appointments
User authentication: Clerk or WorkOS for secure login with MFA support
Stop planning and start building. We turn your idea into a production-ready product in 6-8 weeks.
Business Associate Agreements with all vendors
Encrypted data storage for PHI using Convex's HIPAA-ready infrastructure
Audit logging for all PHI access
Basic security documentation for customer legal review
Tech stack at this level:
Next.js frontend and API routes
Convex for HIPAA-compliant backend and real-time data
Agora or Twilio for video infrastructure with BAA
Clerk for authentication
Vercel for hosting
This is a working telehealth platform. Patients can book appointments, join video calls, and complete intake forms. Providers can manage schedules and conduct consultations.
What's NOT Included at $60K
You won't get:
EHR integration or patient data import
E-prescribing or medication management
Payment processing and billing integration
Insurance verification or claims submission
Patient messaging outside of appointments
Advanced scheduling (recurring appointments, group sessions)
Direct-to-consumer specialty services: Mental health counseling, nutrition coaching, or wellness consulting where you're not billing insurance and don't need EHR integration.
Pilot programs: Validating demand with 50-100 early patients before investing in comprehensive infrastructure.
Niche specialties: Serving specific conditions or demographics with simple clinical workflows that don't require complex integrations.
If your business model is cash-pay and your clinical workflows are straightforward, this tier works. You're building something patients can actually use while keeping costs low enough to validate quickly.
The $150K Telehealth Platform
Timeline: 10-14 weeks
Team: 2-3 developers
What you get: Production-ready platform with payment processing and patient management
Everything from $60K Plus
You get all the basic features, but now you're adding revenue infrastructure and operational tools that turn a prototype into a business.
Payment and Billing Infrastructure
Patient payment processing:
Stripe integration: Collect copays, session fees, or subscription payments from patients
Payment storage and PCI compliance: Secure card tokenization that keeps you out of PCI scope
Subscription management: Handle recurring billing for membership models or ongoing care programs
Invoice generation: Automated receipt creation for tax purposes and insurance reimbursement
Basic insurance billing support:
Capture insurance information during intake
Generate superbills for patients to submit to insurance
Track which sessions have been billed
You're not doing automated insurance claims submission at this tier, but you're giving patients the documentation they need for reimbursement.
Patient Management Features
Messaging and communication:
Asynchronous messaging: HIPAA-compliant chat between patients and providers outside of video sessions
Automated reminders: Email and SMS notifications for upcoming appointments
Document sharing: Secure upload and download of PDFs, images, or test results
Enhanced scheduling:
Recurring appointments: Weekly therapy sessions or ongoing care
Group sessions: Support for group therapy or educational webinars
Provider-to-provider scheduling: Internal referrals and care coordination
Waitlist management: Fill cancellation slots automatically
Provider Workflows
Clinical documentation:
Session notes templates: Structured note-taking during and after appointments
Note history: Access past session summaries for continuity of care
Basic template library: SOAP notes, progress notes, or specialty-specific formats
Provider dashboard:
Upcoming schedule view: Today's appointments and week-ahead calendar
Patient charts: Quick access to patient history, notes, and intake forms
Earnings tracking: See billable hours and collected payments
Mobile Web Experience
The platform works on mobile browsers but is not a native app. Mobile web covers 80% of use cases without the cost and complexity of iOS/Android app development and app store compliance.
Growing practices transitioning to telehealth: Established providers adding virtual care to existing in-person services.
Multi-provider platforms: 5-15 clinicians sharing infrastructure under one brand.
Subscription-based care models: Membership practices or DTC services with recurring revenue.
Insurance-optional models: Accept insurance but primarily serve cash-pay patients.
At this tier, you have a real business, not just a prototype. You can onboard providers, serve hundreds of patients, collect payment, and operate profitably.
The $300K Telehealth Platform
Timeline: 16-24 weeks
Team: 3-4 developers + compliance specialist
What you get: Enterprise-grade platform with EHR integration, e-prescribing, and insurance billing
Everything from $150K Plus
You keep all payment, patient management, and provider workflow features. Now you're adding integrations that connect your platform to the broader healthcare ecosystem.
EHR Integration
Patient data import and sync:
HL7 or FHIR integration: Pull patient demographics, medications, allergies, and problem lists from Epic, Cerner, or Meditech
Encounter documentation export: Push telehealth visit notes back to the primary EHR
Medication reconciliation: Compare prescribed medications with EHR records
Why EHR integration is expensive:
Each EHR vendor has different integration requirements and sandbox environments
Data mapping between your schema and HL7/FHIR standards is complex
Testing and validation take weeks per EHR system
Ongoing maintenance as EHR vendors release updates
EHR integration is only worth the cost if your target customers demand it. Hospital-affiliated providers need it. Independent practitioners usually don't.
E-Prescribing
Controlled substance prescribing:
EPCS certification: Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substances requires specific certification and two-factor authentication
Prescription routing: Integration with Surescripts or similar networks to send prescriptions directly to pharmacies
Medication history lookup: View patient's prescription history for safety checks
Formulary checking: See which medications are covered by patient's insurance plan
Why e-prescribing is expensive:
Surescripts integration fees and certification requirements
EPCS two-factor authentication implementation
State-specific prescribing regulations and compliance requirements
Drug database licensing for interaction checking
Mental health, addiction treatment, and pain management platforms need e-prescribing for controlled substances. Many specialty telehealth services can defer this feature.
Insurance Claims and Billing
Automated claims submission:
Eligibility verification: Real-time insurance coverage checks before appointments
Claims generation: Automatically create and submit claims to payers using diagnosis and procedure codes
ERA/EOB processing: Parse payer responses and post payments to patient accounts
Denial management: Flag denied claims for review and resubmission
Revenue cycle management features:
Coding assistance: Suggest appropriate CPT codes based on session type and duration
Claim status tracking: Monitor claims from submission through payment
Patient responsibility calculation: Determine copays, coinsurance, and deductibles
Aging reports: Track outstanding claims and patient balances
Why insurance billing is expensive:
Integration with clearinghouses like Change Healthcare or Availity
Complex business logic for different payer requirements
Extensive testing with multiple insurance carriers
Ongoing updates as payer rules change
If you're building a platform that bills insurance as primary revenue source, this tier is necessary. If insurance is secondary or you're cash-pay focused, defer this complexity.
Native Mobile Apps
iOS and Android apps built with React Native:
App Store compliance: HIPAA-specific requirements for healthcare apps
Push notifications: Appointment reminders and message alerts
Offline support: Access patient charts and session notes without internet
Device integration: Camera access for photo uploads, biometric authentication
Why mobile apps are expensive:
Separate development for platform-specific features
App Store review processes and ongoing compliance
Mobile-specific security requirements
Push notification infrastructure and device token management
Mobile apps improve engagement and enable offline workflows. They're table stakes for consumer-facing platforms but less critical for provider tools.
Quarterly penetration testing and vulnerability scans
HIPAA risk assessment:
Comprehensive analysis of PHI handling across all systems
Documented policies and procedures for your organization
Workforce training and access control policies
Breach notification procedures
At $300K, you're not just building a platform. You're building the operational infrastructure that enterprise healthcare customers require before signing contracts.
When $300K Makes Sense
Hospital-affiliated telehealth programs: Platforms that need EHR integration and insurance billing from day one.
Large multi-specialty group practices: 25+ providers across multiple specialties with complex workflows.
Insurance-first business models: Platforms where insurance reimbursement is the primary revenue source.
Enterprise customer targets: Selling to healthcare systems that require SOC 2 compliance and comprehensive integrations.
If you're targeting enterprise customers or building a platform that must integrate deeply into existing healthcare infrastructure, this tier is unavoidable. The features are expensive but required to serve the market.
Where the Money Actually Goes
Understanding cost breakdowns helps evaluate proposals and spot padding or missing components.
Development Labor
Developer time drives cost:
Senior full-stack developers: $150-200/hour
HIPAA compliance specialists: $175-225/hour
Mobile developers: $150-200/hour
UI/UX designers: $125-175/hour
Rough breakdown by budget:
$60K budget:
300-400 development hours
6-8 weeks with 1-2 developers
Covers core features only, minimal design iterations
$150K budget:
750-1,000 development hours
10-14 weeks with 2-3 developers
Includes design, testing, and documentation
$300K budget:
1,500-2,000 development hours
16-24 weeks with 3-4 developers
Includes integrations, compliance work, and extensive testing
Third-Party Service Costs
These are ongoing operational costs, not one-time development:
Video infrastructure:
Agora or Twilio Video with BAA: $0.004-0.008 per minute
100 hours of appointments monthly: $25-50/month at scale
Include bandwidth and recording storage costs
HIPAA-compliant infrastructure:
Convex (HIPAA-ready backend): Scales with usage, starts free
Vercel (hosting with SOC 2): $20-150/month depending on traffic
Combined infrastructure: $50-200/month for early-stage platform
E-prescribing (if applicable):
Surescripts or DrFirst integration: $500-1,000 setup + $0.10-0.50 per prescription
Drug database licensing: $200-500/month
Insurance billing (if applicable):
Clearinghouse integration: $100-300/month + $0.25-1.00 per claim
Eligibility verification: $0.10-0.30 per check
Compliance and Security
One-time costs:
SOC 2 Type 1 audit: $15,000-25,000
SOC 2 Type 2 audit: $25,000-40,000 (annual)
Penetration testing: $8,000-15,000
HIPAA risk assessment: $5,000-10,000
These costs are separate from platform development but necessary for selling to healthcare organizations. Budget for compliance alongside development.
What Each Tier Can't Do
Understanding limitations helps avoid scope creep and misaligned expectations.
$60K Limitations
You cannot:
Accept insurance or submit claims
Integrate with EHRs or import patient data
Prescribe medications electronically
Support native mobile apps
Handle complex multi-provider scheduling
Provide automated patient engagement campaigns
$150K Limitations
You cannot:
Integrate deeply with EHR systems
Submit insurance claims automatically
Prescribe controlled substances electronically
Offer native iOS/Android apps (mobile web only)
Support hundreds of concurrent video sessions without infrastructure upgrades
$300K Limitations
Even at this tier, you're not getting:
AI-powered clinical decision support
Multi-language support and localization
Advanced analytics and population health dashboards
White-label multi-tenant architecture for resellers
Custom specialty-specific workflows for multiple verticals
These features represent $500K+ platforms or require ongoing product development beyond initial build.
Hidden Costs That Appear Later
Initial development is just the beginning. Operational costs compound.
Provider Credentialing
If you're building a marketplace connecting patients to multiple providers, credentialing is unavoidable:
Verify provider licenses and DEA numbers
Maintain malpractice insurance records
Track board certifications and continuing education
Monitor state-specific practice requirements
Credentialing software costs $200-500/month or requires dedicated operations staff. Budget for this if you're onboarding many providers.
Customer Support Infrastructure
Healthcare platforms need responsive support. Patients contacting you about appointment issues or technical problems need help within hours, not days:
Support ticketing system: $50-200/month
Support staff time: Budget 1 support person per 500-1,000 active patients
After-hours coverage: Answering service or on-call rotation for urgent technical issues
Video Infrastructure Scaling Costs
Video bandwidth scales linearly with usage. At 1,000 hours of appointments monthly:
Twilio Video: $4,000-8,000/month in usage charges
Agora: $3,000-6,000/month depending on quality settings
Recording storage: $200-500/month for 90-day retention
Budget for video costs to scale with patient volume. These costs are variable but unavoidable.
Compliance Maintenance
HIPAA compliance is not one-time. Annual ongoing costs:
SOC 2 Type 2 annual audit: $25,000-40,000
Penetration testing: $8,000-15,000 annually
Security monitoring and logging: $100-500/month
Compliance software or consultants: $5,000-15,000/year
Match your budget to your business model and validation needs.
Start at $60K If
You're validating demand for a specialty telehealth service with:
Cash-pay business model: No insurance billing required
Simple clinical workflows: Standard appointment-based care
Small provider team: 1-3 clinicians initially
Direct-to-consumer: No EHR integration requirements
Use the $60K tier to validate that patients will pay for your service and that providers can deliver care effectively on your platform.
Start at $150K If
You have validated demand and need operational infrastructure:
Growing provider team: 5-15 clinicians onboarding in first year
Subscription or membership model: Recurring revenue requiring payment infrastructure
Hybrid insurance model: Accept insurance but also serve cash-pay patients
Need mobile access: Patients and providers require mobile-optimized experience
This tier supports a real business scaling to hundreds of patients and meaningful revenue.
Start at $300K If
You're targeting enterprise customers or insurance-first models:
Hospital partnerships: EHR integration is non-negotiable requirement
Insurance-primary revenue: Most patients will use insurance as payment
Multi-specialty platform: Complex workflows requiring e-prescribing and referral management
Enterprise sales: Customers require SOC 2 and extensive security documentation
Don't start here unless you have funding to support 18-24 month sales cycles and high upfront investment. See our guide on healthcare sales cycle realities for timeline expectations.
Red Flags in Pricing Proposals
When evaluating development proposals, watch for these warning signs.
Proposals Under $40K for "Full Telehealth Platform"
If someone quotes $30K-40K for a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform with video, scheduling, and payment processing, they're either:
Using pre-built templates that lock you into their platform
Cutting corners on compliance and security
Underestimating scope and will ask for change orders later
Real custom development at compliant standards costs more. If the price seems too good to be true, it is.
Proposals That Don't Mention Compliance
HIPAA compliance should be discussed in every healthtech proposal. If the proposal focuses only on features and ignores compliance requirements:
Compliance is scoped separately (ask for that pricing)
They're building non-compliant infrastructure you'll need to rebuild
Don't sign with developers who treat HIPAA as an afterthought.
Vague Timeline Estimates
"12-16 weeks" is reasonable for a $150K platform. "4-6 weeks" for the same scope is impossible:
Underestimating complexity
Planning to use pre-built components you don't own
Will deliver incomplete or buggy product
Detailed proposals should include week-by-week milestone breakdowns showing what gets built when.
Missing Ongoing Costs
Development proposals should clarify ongoing operational costs:
Third-party service fees (video, hosting, etc.)
Annual compliance costs (audits, testing)
Maintenance and support pricing
If the proposal only shows development cost, ask explicitly about operational budget requirements.
Key Takeaways
Telehealth platform costs depend on feature scope, compliance requirements, and integration complexity:
$60K platforms deliver basic video appointments, scheduling, and intake forms. Suitable for validating demand with simple cash-pay models.
$150K platforms add payment processing, patient management, and provider workflows. Production-ready for growing multi-provider businesses.
$300K platforms include EHR integration, e-prescribing, and insurance billing. Required for enterprise customers and insurance-first models.
Where money goes:
Development labor: 60-70% of budget
Third-party services: 5-10% initially, scales with usage
Compliance and security: 10-15% of development budget plus annual ongoing costs
Choose your tier based on:
Business model: cash-pay vs insurance-first
Customer type: direct-to-consumer vs enterprise
Validation stage: early testing vs proven demand
Start at the lowest tier that supports your business model. Scale infrastructure as revenue proves the model works.
This is not legal or compliance advice. HIPAA and healthcare regulations vary by use case. Consult qualified legal and compliance professionals for your specific platform requirements.
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