# Guide: telehealth and navigation

Before you book, check that the member's plan lists the clinician. One call answers, with the date of the directory behind it.

Source: https://inplan.io/docs/guides/telehealth · Updated 2026-10-30

## 1. Check before you book

Send the clinician's NPI and the member's plan id to `GET /v1/check`. Add `year` when the visit falls in a known plan year.

curl:

```bash
curl https://api.inplan.io/v1/check \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $INPLAN_KEY" \
  -G -d npi=1184617268 -d plan_id=H2526-001-000
```

JavaScript:

```javascript
const url = new URL("https://api.inplan.io/v1/check");
url.search = new URLSearchParams({ npi: "1184617268", plan_id: "H2526-001-000" });

const res = await fetch(url, {
  headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.INPLAN_KEY}` },
});
const body = await res.json();
const { answer, evidence } = body.data;
```

Python:

```python
import os, requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.inplan.io/v1/check",
    params={"npi": "1184617268", "plan_id": "H2526-001-000"},
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['INPLAN_KEY']}"},
    timeout=10,
)
body = res.json()
answer, evidence = body["data"]["answer"], body["data"]["evidence"]
```

## 2. Read the new-patient flag

For Medicare Advantage plans, `evidence[].accepting_new_patients` says whether the directory marks the clinician as open to new patients. It is `null` when the directory does not say.

Response (200 OK · shortened):

```json
{
  "data": {
    "answer": "listed",
    "evidence": [
      {
        "plan_id": "H2526-001-000",
        "plan_year": 2027,
        "accepting_new_patients": true,
        "provider_kind": "practitioner",
        "source": {
          "type": "plan_directory",
          "as_of": "2026-10-29"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

## 3. Route on the answer

- `listed`: book, and show the plan year and date in the confirmation.
- `not_found`: offer the visit with a note to confirm coverage with the plan, or offer a clinician whose answer is `listed`.
- To find clinicians a marketplace plan lists near the member, use `GET /v1/plans/{plan_id}/providers` with `zip` and `radius` (Growth and above).