The Tele-mental Health Guide defines tele-mental health as “the provision of mental health services using live, interactive videoconferencing.” We recently shed some light on the benefits of tele-mental health services for both practitioners and patients. Many agree that convenient remote access to mental health services will increase efficiency and allow patients in underserved areas to receive continuous quality care on a greater scale.
If you are a Maryland mental health provider you may be wondering, “Where can I sign up?” Let’s discuss the next steps and potential barriers to implementing telehealth consultations.
Telehealth Consultation Requirements in Maryland
The regulations governing the provision of telehealth services varies state-to-state, and this can get tricky if you plan to practice with patients across state lines. According to the Maryland Health Care Commission, telehealth consultation requirements include the following:
- Licensing – A physician must be licensed in the State if either or both the individual practicing medicine or if the patient is physically located in Maryland
- Credentials – If a multi-site hospital credentials physicians specifically for the site at which they are located, every physician within the hospital system must be credentialed at all hospital sites in order to provide telehealth services
- Liability – A physician must work with their insurance carrier to determine if coverage is available and if so, the extent of coverage allowed under their policy (liability and malpractice insurance for tele-health services varies by carrier)
- Financial – Physicians must purchase and maintain equipment for these services
- Staffing – For organizations interested in providing telehealth services, access to providers that are able and willing to provide these services and support the needs of the organization as they implement and grow their services is a must
- Registration – Those registering to be telehealth providers must be enrolled in the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and register as an originating or distant site via an online form before rendering services
Technical Requirements for Telehealth Consultations in Maryland
According to the Maryland Medicaid Telehealth Provider Manual, providers shall, at a minimum, meet the following technical requirements:
- A camera that has the ability to manually, or under remote control, provide multiple views of a patient with the capability of altering the resolution, focus, and zoom requirements according to the consultation
- Have display monitor size sufficient to support diagnostic needs used in the telehealth service
- Bandwidth speed and image resolution sufficient to provide quality video to meet a minimum of 15 frames per second, or higher, as industry standards change
- Audio equipment that ensures clear communication and includes echo cancellation
- Creates audio transmission with less than 300 millisecond delay
Provider Registration – Take the First Step to Implementing Telehealth Today
If you are a provider who is interested in offering consultations, you may be enrolled in the fee-for-service (FFS) program or a HealthChoice managed care organization (MCO). Don’t let the requirements overwhelm you – be proactive! Taking the first required step is simple, all you have to do is fill out this Telehealth Registration Form. To complete the registration process you will need:
- Your Maryland Medical Assistance provider number
- Your National Provider Identification (NPI) number
- An email account to receive for communications from the Telehealth team
*Note: After Medicaid verifies your registration information, you will receive a confirmation email. Until Medicaid confirms your registration, providers should not bill for telehealth services. If you have any questions, you should email dhmh.telemedicineinfo@maryland.gov or refer to this Telehealth Provider Manual*
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Vetters Enterprises is a full service practice management company specializing in practice management, revenue cycle optimization, and private practice support. Give us a call at 443-352-0088 or contact us online if you’d like to see how we can help improve your cash flow.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that anxiety, depression, substance abuse and other psychological ailments affect nearly one in five Americans, or 43.8 million people. However, it can be difficult for people with behavioral problems to seek help from a mental health professional and receive an accurate diagnosis. Mental health services are often offered in abundance in urban and suburban areas, making it difficult for people in rural areas to conveniently access the help that they need. That’s where tele-mental health comes in.