MA COVID-19 Outpatient Psychotherapist Info

aetna

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T15:19:49+0000

Aetna Aetna's statement saying that they are covering telehealth:

american_professional_agency_inc

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-17T06:20:23+0000

American Professional Agency, Inc March 17: "Telebehavioral health would be covered under your present policy, subject to the exclusions, terms, and conditions of the policy, there are some factors to be taken into consideration in order to protect yourself from liability.

bcbsma

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-18T00:20:35+0000

BCBS of MA BCBS doesn't require additional certification for telehealth. Not all BCBS plans cover telehealth though so you have to check with each plan. The general rule of thumb is that when you verify benefits, if it states that Telehealth is covered, it is, and if it doesn't say anything, it's not. But maybe with the Governor's ruling, they'll cover it for everyone?

cigna

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-17T19:47:50+0000

Cigna Cigna announcement as of 3/17/20: INTERIM TELEHEALTH GUIDANCE Announcement from Cigna Behavioral Health During this time of heightened awareness of the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, and its recent classification by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic, we want to keep you up to date on how Cigna Behavioral Health is working to help support you and your patients with Cigna coverage.

cph_insurance

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T01:04:19+0000

CPH Ins As of 11 Mar 2020: CPH's regular malpractice insurance package covers telemental health, just as it is. See: which states: " We are pleased to assure you that the policy with CPH & Associates does cover services provided via telehealth,

hpso

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-18T21:15:11+0000

HPSO Per phone call 3/18, HPSO liability insurance covers telemental health. It will also cover you to do telehealth across state lines as long as both your board and the board of the state where the client is located deem you legal to be practicing.

insurers_and_other_payers

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-09-02T22:16:51+0000

Insurers and Other Payers Governor's Telehealth Coverage Executive Order, March 15, 2020: PDF at mass.gov. Crucial text from the Order: " [Payers] are hereby required to allow all in-network providers to deliver clinically approrpriate, medically necessary covered service to members via telehealth.

laws_regulations_codes_of_ethics

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T02:28:00+0000

Laws, Regulations, Codes of Ethics * LMHC * LICSW * PhD

lmhc_board_policy_fulltext

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T02:44:27+0000

MA Allied Mental Health Board's Policy on Distance, Online, and Other Electronic-Assisted Counseling: Policy No. 07-03 The Board for LMHCs's "Policy on Distance, Online, and Other Electronic-Assisted Counseling: Policy No. 07-03" (Note the official version is truncated, and the full version can be found on an unofficial site here.: " The Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professionals (

lmhc_law_reg_coe

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T20:55:57+0000

LMHC Laws, Regulations, Codes of Ethics Board Policy Full text of the LMHC Board's "Policy on Distance, Online, and Other Electronic-Assisted Counseling: Policy No. 07-03" Some relevant excerpts for MA-licensed LMHCs seeing patients IN Massachusetts: " This policy guideline is intended as a recommended protocol for the profession to follow. The guideline set forth below does not have the full force and effect of law

malpractice_insurers

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-17T00:22:35+0000

Malpractice Insurers CPH Insurance HPSO American Professional Agency, Inc.

masshealth

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-16T01:05:01+0000

MassHealth (Info needed!)

medicaid_medicare

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-26T02:15:12+0000

Medicaid/Medicare 3/16/20 Reported on Clinicians United listserve that APA staff has learned that CMS will release new telehealth waivers by the beginning of next week. APA is planning to work with states in advocating around this. -Brennan 3/25/20

optum

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-17T06:25:16+0000

Optum Here is Optum's policy: Optum is covering telehealth across the board, but you need to complete this attestation: [Optum's list of acceptable platforms for delivering telehealth [PDF]] This may be rendered obsolete by the governor's executive order forbidding payers from limiting acceptable platforms. In any event…

seeing_patients_not_in_massachusetts

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-07-12T04:09:56+0000

Seeing Patients Not in Massachusetts The location of the patient at the time of service matters! Legally, not only do you have to be licensed/legal in your state of practice (though MA professionals don't need to be physically in MA at time of service),

start

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-19T20:21:07+0000

Massachusetts COVID-19 Outpatient Psychotherapist Info This is a compilation of rapidly emerging information for outpatient psychotherapist in Massachusetts, regarding the provision of outpatient psychotherapy during the COVID-19 outbreak, primarily addressing doing it online or otherwise remotely to comply with social distancing.

taking_care_of_yourself

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-19T20:37:25+0000

Taking Care of Yourself We're all working hard to take care of our clients so here are some free resources to help us take care of ourselves. Headspace meditation app is offering free premium memberships through the end of 2020 to all healthcare providers in the US. Use your NPI to sign up.

telemental_health_practice_info

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-25T17:23:09+0000

Telemental Health Practice Info Training PersonCenteredTech, a renown training company for teletherapy practice and ethics, has added a bunch of emergency resources for therapists taking their practice virtual in the pandemic: * Their front page is now a pro bono crash course with example forms!

tufts

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-18T21:08:52+0000

Tufts For their commercial plans, you don't need additional certification to provide telehealth. Typically it's covered at 80% of the regular fee schedule, but presumably it will be paid at 100% due to Gov Baker's orders. Tufts Health Together is requiring an attestation form signed by the provider in order to do telehealth (per phone call 3/18).

unicare_state_indemnity_plan

Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) — 2020-03-23T19:17:43+0000

Unicare State Indemnity Plan They seem to cover telehealth for all their plans although allowed platforms are unclear: OON Mar 23 - Announcement on Unicare's website suggests they're now covering telehealth for all providers. Announcement here