Telehealth

• Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access services remotely and manage physical and mental health needs.
• Telehealth allows providers to deliver services so clients can receive supports via technology. It is a convenient and safe way to continue providing services while patients are quarantined, self-quarantined, or self-isolated due to exposure of possible risk of exposure to COVID-19.

• Maintains communication and support with clients without having to travel to a facility,
  personal home, or be in the community to limit risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19.
• Provides greater flexibility to safely treat clients, participants and patients.
  • Prior to this announcement, Medicare was only allowed to pay clinicians for
    telehealth services such as routine visits in certain circumstances.
• Now providers can provide telehealth to anyone not just those who are in rural communities.
• Qualified providers should inform their patients that services are available via telehealth.

• Providers should consult their agency and determine if they are permitted to provide
  services based on current state and federal regulations.
  • FOR OMHSAS PROVIDERS: However, you will need to complete an Attestation
    Form as required by bulletin OMHSAS-20-02 within 5 days of initiating telehealth.
    When submitting the attestation for RA-PWTBHS@pa.gov for the COVID-19
    state of emergency, please use the subject line “COVID-19 EMERGENCY.”
  • For questions specific to children’s services providers can email:
    RA-PWIBHS@pa.gov

• It’s convenient.
  • Clients/participants/patients will be eligible for telehealth services effective
    March 6, 2020.
  • Patients receive telehealth services from their homes without risking exposure
    to COVID-19.
• Some services don’t have to stop. Check with your supports coordinators for more information.
• Slows the spread of the virus and helps to keep more people healthy.
• Clients/participants/patients can continue to communicate and get support from their providers.
• Services through telehealth include common office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings.

• HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will exercise enforcement discretion and waive
  penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients in
  good faith through everyday communications technologies.
  • Now, covered health care providers may use online applications that allow for
    video chats, including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google
    Hangouts video, or Skype to see their patients, clients, or participants, even they
    may not fully comply with HIPAA rules. Providers should enable privacy features
    and encryption options that are available in any of these applications.
    Z Providers cannot use public facing technologies (like Facebook Live, Tik Tok,
    or Twitch) to provide telemedicine services. These are not safe.
• During this state of emergency, telehealth will allow the use of telephonic video
  technology commonly available on smart phones and other electronic devices. In
  addition, telephone only services may be utilized in situations where video technology is
  not available.
• Providers should make all good faith efforts to make sure the health information of their
  patients, clients, and participants is safe. This means being in a private space, away from
  other people, not disclosing information to others in the household, etc.
• Providers should tell their patients, clients, and participants of potential privacy risks
  involved in using these technologies.
• Providers must take responsibility to stay updated with changes to federal and state
  regulations during this time to ensure compliance.

• Staff trained in the use of the telehealth equipment and protocols to provide operating
  support and staff trained to provide in-person clinical intervention will not be required
  to be present with the individual while they are receiving services.
• The practitioner types that can provide services through telehealth will not be limited
  to psychiatrists, licensed psychologists, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners and
  Physicians.
• Provider types that can bill for telehealth under Medical Assistance (MA) Fee-For- Service (FFS) will not be restricted to services originating from Psychiatric Outpatient Clinics, Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization Programs, and Drug & Alcohol Outpatient Clinics. BHMCOs may continue to allow billing for any provider type they determine appropriate.
• Assistants certified in mental health; Licensed Clinical Social Workers; Licensed
  Professional Counselors; and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists can use
  telehealth services. Other individuals providing necessary behavioral health services
  will be permitted to utilize telehealth for services that are within their scope of practice.

For 90 days (est. June 15, 2020), or while the valid emergency disaster declaration is authorized by the Governor related to COVID-19 remains in effect, which ever comes first. It is likely that it may be re-issued as appropriate if emergency disaster declaration continues to be authorized by the Governor.