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Reimbursement: Recent Legal and Marketplace Changes

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2011-12-11 08:00

Increasingly Technical Marketplace Changes Standard Therapy Models
FREE 1-hour Training Webinar (LIVE)
Wrap up this year with an essential discussion of current events to predict next year’s focus on telemental health and online therapy. This month’s guest will be Tania S. Malik, J.D., Founder and President of COPEtoday. As Dr. Maheu’s guest, she will discuss the rapidly changing legal and marketplace issues related to increasing access to mental health via technology.

Suicide Preparedness: 7 Strategies for Telemental Health or Online Therapy

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 2011-12-04 21:29

Potentially suicidal clients and patients pose one of the most rigorous challenges faced by telemental health professionals.

MANDATED CHILD ABUSE REPORTING IN ONLINE THERAPY -– A Sobering Reality?

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2011-11-21 11:45

The recent Penn State child sexual abuse tragedy points to a fundamental problem that seems to be going unnoticed by many online practitioners who practicing with anonymous clients and patients. That is, the professional does not obtain the full identify and contact information prior to delivering care.

FREE Webinar November 17: How to Develop A Thriving Telemental Health Practice from Your Home

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 2011-11-10 12:25

Legal and Ethical Strategies
 FREE 1-hour Training Webinar (LIVE)
November 17, 2011
2 PM Eastern, 11 AM Pacific
Interested in starting a telemental health practice but not quite sure how to get started?
Familiarize yourself with a successful online practice model that is HIPAA compliant and reimbursed by third-party payors. Identify resources to increase the success of your telemental health practice.

Is Home-Based TeleHealth Reimbursement Here at Last?

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-11-09 15:40

Do we need to conduct in-person assessment before delivering telemental health or online therapy? Is reimbursement for home-based telehealth still prohibited from federal reimbursement? Answers depend on your state law.
For Californians, state law just changed, making home-based telehealth care of many types not only feasible, but reimbursable. The Telehealth Advancement Act of 2011 was passed in September of 2011. Repercussions are far-reaching, and open the door to home-based practice state-wide.

American Telemedicine Association Survey – Please Complete

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-11-09 11:19

Dear Colleagues:

Texting and HIPAA

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-11-02 01:54

Two years ago, we at the TeleMental Health Institute published an article about safeguards to use while texting: http://telehealth.net/texting
Some of our colleagues scoffed at our “paranoia,” including a malpractice carrier. Now that several more companies have developed text-encryption and other security/privacy services, and HIPAA violations are being punished, we see more responsible attention to the matter.

Online Mental Health Companies Fall Short

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2011-10-07 13:32

The online mental health delivery system is sorely lagging in development. Service delivery models suggested by many dot.commental health websites put both the practitioner and consumer at risk. Many such websites are developed with more of an eye toward making a profit than delivering services that would benefit the involved parties.For example:

6 Easy Ways Learn about SKYPE & Mental Health Delivery

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2011-10-04 12:22

One of the TeleMental Health Institute LINKEDIN group members wrote me privately to ask me to draft an email that he can send to his state association listerv to help his colleagues learn more about Skype. Please let me know if there’s any other information you might need about practicing online.
Marlene
~
Here are 5 options for learning more about Skype:

Learning about Licensure across Diciplines

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2011-10-03 11:02

What’s going on with our regulatory boards in the United States and licensure for telehealth?  The big challenges for our colleagues serving on these regulatory boards seem to include:
1. deciding how to best enforce their local laws when their licensees practice illegally in foreign areas
2. how to handle the challenge/expenses when foreign licensees come to their states and harm their local citizens
3. Getting the cooperation of 49 other states to make a shared licensure enforcement plan viable.