If there’s one thing healthcare organizations can count on, it’s changing regulations. Although credentialing and recredentialing standards were temporarily changed due to COVID, many regulations...

COVID has impacted every aspect of daily life, and these changes have affected people’s mental health, making telehealth services for behavioral health more important than ever. Decreased physical activity due to disruption in exercise routines, increased social isolation, and economic decline all have the potential to adversely affect behavioral health. Unfortunately, some people manage social isolation and pandemic-related stress by increasing adverse health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol, or drug use. Others may become susceptible to mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
In light of these challenges, digital telemental health has become an increasingly valuable tool for improving access to behavioral health practitioners. The use of telemedicine in the U.S. was minimal prior to COVID, but since 2020 expansion of telemedicine has skyrocketed as policymakers, insurers, and health systems sought ways to deliver care to patients in their homes. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), telehealth services had a 63-fold increase with Medicare patients in 2020. In response to the growing demand for telemedicine, lawmakers have introduced new telehealth policies across the spectrum of healthcare. Telepsychiatry in particular has benefited from these changes.
Let’s take a look at how many aspects of telehealth for behavioral health — its popularity, its challenges, some best practices, and even credentialing — have changed over the past couple of years.
From Skeptics to Fans
Just a few years ago, telemedicine had many skeptics, including those who wanted to have a physical examination and in-person interaction with their physicians, those who were intimidated by technology, and those who doubted the quality of care through telehealth services. Since COVID, patients have experienced many benefits of telemedicine, such as eliminating travel, receiving care from the comfort of their homes, shorter wait times, quicker access, and more affordable care.
Credentials verification of telehealth providers has also changed throughout the pandemic. For example, waivers were put into place temporarily lifting the requirement that providers be licensed in the states that they provide telehealth services (see below). These license verification requirements have continued to change, so keeping up with regulations in telehealth is vital to compliance.
Regulations and credentialing for telehealth have been adjusted to meet the growing demand for remote healthcare. In the Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care, the Joint Commission requires credentials verification of telehealth providers, including all who provide care, those who volunteer, and behavioral health students. Three important regulations outlined by the Joint Commission include:
Top Telehealth Challenges for Behavioral Healthcare
Although telemedicine provides increased access to mental health services, digital visits also present challenges. Organizations should be aware of these challenges in order to mitigate risk in the following areas:
Telemental Health Best Practices
To help address challenges and provide safe, effective services, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have issued best practice guidelines for telemental health or telepsychiatry. These guidelines span from privacy and security to infrastructure to accessibility. Some guidelines for best practices in telemental health include (but are not limited to) clinical, administrative, and technical dimensions.
Credentialing and reimbursement for telehealth will continue to change as remote healthcare grows. Verisys will monitor changes in telehealth regulations and will keep you informed and in compliance.
Is your organization prepared for the future of telemedicine? Contact Verisys today to learn how we can get you prepared.
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Written by Verisys Verisys transforms provider data, workforce data, and relationship management. Healthcare, life science, and background screening organizations rely on our comprehensive solutions to discover their true potential. Visit verisys.com to learn how we turn problems into power.
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