RENVA Methodology
Methodology Version:1.0 · Effective Date: June 24, 2026
RENVA compares telehealth providers using a structured, publicly-sourced research process. Our goal is to help users understand provider trade-offs before they pay. RENVA is not a healthcare provider. We do not diagnose, prescribe, recommend treatment, or determine eligibility. Our methodology is applied consistently across all providers, regardless of affiliate status.
1. What We Compare
RENVA may evaluate providers across factors including price, what is included, possible extra fees, labs, shipping, consultation model, messaging or video access, cancellation process, refund policy, insurance acceptance, privacy considerations, user experience signals, public complaint patterns, and transparency of provider information. All data is sourced from publicly available provider websites and public records. RENVA does not have access to clinical databases, proprietary provider records, or internal provider data.
2. Pricing Methodology
RENVA identifies advertised pricing as published on each provider's public website. "Starting at" pricing is noted where applicable. RENVA attempts to document the likely total monthly cost, inclusive of membership fees, lab fees, and shipping, where that information is publicly available.
Pricing changes frequently. RENVA attempts to verify pricing before publishing or updating content and includes a "last verified" date wherever possible. Users should always confirm current pricing directly with the provider before signing up. RENVA does not guarantee pricing accuracy.
3. Provider Access Model
RENVA categorizes providers by their access and communication model — not by clinical model. Categories used include: async (provider reviews intake without real-time interaction), messaging-based (ongoing provider messaging), video (scheduled video visits), hybrid (combination of models), membership (ongoing subscription access), one-time visit, and subscription or lab-based billing. These are billing and access categories only. RENVA does not evaluate or categorize providers by clinical approach.
4. Cancellation and Refund Methodology
RENVA evaluates whether cancellation appears self-service or requires contacting support, whether refund terms are clearly published on the provider's website, whether subscription renewal terms are easy to find, and whether the provider explains cancellation clearly before purchase. RENVA sources this information from publicly available provider websites. RENVA does not test cancellation flows directly or verify outcomes at scale.
5. Privacy Methodology
RENVA evaluates whether the provider publishes a privacy policy, whether data sharing practices are disclosed, whether marketing communications are explained, and whether sensitive health-related information handling is described. RENVA does not audit provider security practices, verify HIPAA compliance, or make representations about a provider's legal compliance.
6. Affiliate and Editorial Independence
RENVA may earn affiliate commissions from some providers mentioned on the site. Affiliate compensation has zero weight in provider scoring. Affiliate relationships do not influence rankings, quiz results, article findings, or editorial conclusions. RENVA does not accept payment for favorable reviews or guaranteed placement. The same scoring criteria are applied to every provider, whether or not an affiliate relationship exists.
7. Provider Rating Framework
RENVA scores providers on a 100-point scale across ten universal criteria and eight vertical-specific overlays. Scores are informational only. They do not constitute a clinical assessment, treatment recommendation, or eligibility determination. A higher score means the provider is more transparent and consumer-friendly based on publicly available information — not that the provider is medically superior.
Universal scoring criteria (all verticals)
| Criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1. True monthly cost | Whether advertised price is all-in or whether lab, shipping, or other fees add to the total | 20 |
| 2. Price transparency | Whether full pricing is visible before signup, or only after account creation or a call | 15 |
| 3. Provider credentials | Whether licensed and/or board-certified providers are disclosed, with a credential page | 15 |
| 4. Consultation model | Whether the access model is sync (video/phone), async, or hybrid | 15 |
| 5. Ease of signup | Whether the signup process is fully online without a required phone call | 10 |
| 6. Customer support | Whether live chat, email, and/or phone support is available | 10 |
| 7. Cancellation ease | Whether cancellation is self-service online or requires contacting support | 8 |
| 8. Refund policy clarity | Whether a clear refund policy is published on the provider's website | 4 |
| 9. Privacy posture | Whether a privacy policy exists and whether data sale practices are addressed | 2 |
| 10. Complaint signals | Whether significant public complaint patterns are identifiable from public sources | 1 |
Score bands
Automatic disqualifiers
Any provider that triggers one or more of the following conditions has its score capped at 39 regardless of points earned on other criteria. A capped provider appears in comparisons but cannot rank as Fair, Good, or Excellent.
- No licensed provider disclosed anywhere in the signup flow
- No cancellation path identifiable from the provider's public website
- Active regulatory action (FDA, FTC, or state attorney general) identified from public records
- Pricing completely unavailable before signup — no price disclosed without creating an account or completing a call
Vertical-specific sub-criteria
For each of RENVA's eight verticals, the universal scoring criteria are supplemented by up to five additional sub-criteria worth up to 20 points in aggregate. These sub-criteria replace the generic scoring on criteria 1 and 2 for that vertical, keeping the total at 100 points. Sub-criteria are designed to surface trade-offs that matter specifically within that vertical based on publicly available provider information.
Weight Loss / GLP-1
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Compounding disclosure | Whether compounded vs. brand is labeled and FDA status noted | 5 |
| V2. Pharmacy transparency | Whether a named 503B/503A pharmacy is disclosed before signup | 5 |
| V3. Titration protocol | Whether a titration schedule is published or explained | 4 |
| V4. Lab and monitoring | Whether labs are included or clearly priced | 3 |
| V5. Supply reliability | Whether in-stock status or a backorder policy is published | 3 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- Prescribes GLP-1s with no clinical intake or licensed provider
- Active FDA warning letter regarding compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide
- No shipping timeline or delivery method disclosed
Hair Loss
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Treatment modality mix | Whether oral and topical options are both available and disclosed | 5 |
| V2. Formulation transparency | Whether generic vs. branded is labeled with ingredient strength | 5 |
| V3. Photo / progress check-in | Whether a structured progress check-in process exists | 4 |
| V4. Shipping frequency | Whether ship cadence (monthly, quarterly) is clearly stated | 3 |
| V5. Pause / skip option | Whether shipment pause or skip is available and disclosed | 3 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No licensed prescriber in the signup flow
- Subscription auto-ships with no skip or cancel option disclosed before signup
Men's Health / TRT
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Lab requirement clarity | Whether required labs, cost, and timing are disclosed | 6 |
| V2. Delivery method | Whether injection, cream, pellet, or oral is disclosed before signup | 4 |
| V3. Ongoing monitoring | Whether follow-up lab and check-in cadence is disclosed | 4 |
| V4. Pharmacy type | Whether compounding vs. brand and pharmacy name are disclosed | 3 |
| V5. Fertility / shutdown notice | Whether fertility impact and add-on options are disclosed | 3 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No licensed prescriber or lab requirement in the flow
- Testosterone offered without intake (controlled substance concern signal)
Women's Health / HRT
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Hormone type disclosure | Whether bioidentical vs. synthetic and delivery form are disclosed | 6 |
| V2. Lab / symptom intake | Whether lab-based or symptom intake process is disclosed | 4 |
| V3. Ongoing monitoring | Whether follow-up lab cadence and dose adjustment process are disclosed | 4 |
| V4. Pharmacy transparency | Whether compounding vs. brand and pharmacy name are disclosed | 3 |
| V5. Condition scope clarity | Whether the conditions served (menopause, perimenopause, PCOS) are clearly stated | 3 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No licensed prescriber in the flow
- Hormones offered with no lab or intake requirement of any kind
Mental Health
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Service type clarity | Whether therapy, psychiatry, and medication management are differentiated | 6 |
| V2. Provider type disclosure | Whether psychiatrist, NP, LCSW, LPC, or equivalent credential type is disclosed | 5 |
| V3. Session model | Whether session length, frequency, and format (video / async) are disclosed | 4 |
| V4. Insurance / cost clarity | Whether insurance is accepted or out-of-pocket cost is stated | 3 |
| V5. Crisis policy | Whether a crisis escalation policy or emergency referral is disclosed | 2 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No licensed provider (therapist, psychiatrist, NP, or equivalent) in the flow
- Controlled substances offered with no intake — active DEA concern signal
- No crisis or emergency escalation path disclosed anywhere on the site
Longevity
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Biomarker tracking | Whether longitudinal tracking of key biomarkers over time is offered and clearly explained | 6 |
| V2. Physician review cadence | Whether a licensed physician or NP reviews results and discusses findings on a regular schedule | 5 |
| V3. Protocol or supplement guidance | Whether personalized protocol recommendations are provided based on results (informational only — RENVA does not evaluate clinical quality) | 4 |
| V4. Follow-up cadence | Whether retesting schedule is clearly disclosed | 3 |
| V5. Data export / portability | Whether users can export their own health data | 2 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No licensed provider involved in result interpretation
- Results framed as diagnostic or treatment recommendations without licensed physician oversight
Home Labs
| Sub-criterion | What RENVA evaluates | Max pts |
|---|---|---|
| V1. Panel scope clarity | Whether biomarkers and tests are explicitly listed before purchase | 6 |
| V2. Results delivery | Whether turnaround time and delivery method (app, portal, PDF) are disclosed | 5 |
| V3. CLIA / lab certification | Whether a CLIA-certified lab partner is named | 4 |
| V4. Physician review option | Whether physician or NP review of results is available (included or add-on). Providers with no review option score 0. | 3 |
| V5. Collection method clarity | Whether at-home collection method (finger-stick, saliva, urine, blood draw) is disclosed before purchase | 2 |
Vertical disqualifiers:
- No CLIA-certified or equivalent lab partner disclosed or identifiable
- Results framed as diagnostic or presented as clinical findings without licensed provider review
8. Provider Match Quiz Methodology
The RENVA Provider Match Quiz compares providers based on user-stated preferences such as budget, convenience, labs, privacy, and provider model. It is not a medical intake form and does not determine whether a user qualifies for a medication, provider, or service. Quiz results are based on stated preferences and provider comparison data. The quiz does not diagnose, prescribe, recommend treatment, or assess medical eligibility. Quiz results are not influenced by affiliate relationships.
9. Update Cadence
RENVA reviews pricing on a regular basis. Major provider policy changes are updated when discovered. Affiliate links are reviewed periodically. User correction requests are reviewed manually. High-traffic articles are prioritized for refreshes. Older articles may reflect prior methodology versions. The methodology version date above reflects the current approach.
10. Limitations
Provider information may change between RENVA's review cycles. RENVA may not cover every telehealth provider in a given vertical. Publicly available information may be incomplete or change without notice. RENVA does not verify individual user experiences, medical outcomes, or the clinical quality of any provider. RENVA does not provide healthcare services.
11. Corrections
If you believe a RENVA comparison contains inaccurate or outdated information, contact us at hello@renva.health. Please include the page URL, the information you believe is incorrect, and any supporting source. We aim to review correction requests within 5 business days.
RENVA is not a healthcare provider and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, prescriptions, or treatment. RENVA's rating framework is designed for informational provider comparison only. A higher score reflects consumer-facing transparency, not clinical quality or superiority. Methodology is applied consistently regardless of affiliate status.