Is Home-Based TeleHealth Reimbursement Here at Last?
by Dr. Maheu on 09/11/11 at 8:40 am
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 [...]
Full StoryAmerican Telemedicine Association Survey – Please Complete
by Dr. Maheu on 09/11/11 at 4:19 am
Dear Colleagues: Broad deployment of telemedicine requires common approaches and uniform practices. For over ten years ATA has been developing practice guidelines for the delivery of safe and effective healthcare via telemedicine. These guidelines are developed in cooperation with leading practitioners, researchers, societies and vendors. Nine such guidelines have been formally approved by the ATA [...]
Full StoryTexting and HIPAA
by Dr. Maheu on 01/11/11 at 6:54 pm
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 [...]
Full StoryOnline Mental Health Companies Fall Short
by Dr. Maheu on 07/10/11 at 6:32 am
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: Some web-based businesses [...]
Full Story6 Easy Ways Learn about SKYPE & Mental Health Delivery
by Dr. Maheu on 04/10/11 at 5:22 am
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 [...]
Full StoryLearning about Licensure across Diciplines
by Dr. Maheu on 03/10/11 at 4:02 am
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 [...]
Full StoryEthical Fallacies in Online Counseling – Assessing Our Own Cognitive Distortions
by Dr. Maheu on 21/09/11 at 7:38 am
Have you ever heard colleagues justify a questionable professional decision by stating she or he, “felt it was ok?” Or maybe they were “just doing the same as the other professionals?” Or “it’s better to deliver some help rather than none at all?” Many practitioners deliver services online without adequate professional training. It also appears that many are making [...]
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