TELEPSYCHIATRY

Telepsychiatry is a way for patients to receive mental health care through technology, like videoconferencing. This can include psychiatric evaluations, therapy, patient education, and medication management. It can be live or recorded and sent to a distant site for later review.

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There are many benefits to telepsychiatry, such as improving access to mental health care in rural areas, reducing the need for emergency room visits and time off work, and reducing transportation barriers. Some people may feel uncomfortable at first, but most people are comfortable with it, especially since they can be in the comfort of their own home or a local facility.

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Telepsychiatry allows psychiatrists to treat patients in distant locations, but they need to be licensed in the state where the patient is located. Telepsychiatry can also create enhanced feelings of safety, security, and privacy for many patients.

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Research has found that telepsychiatry is just as effective as in-person care in diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. Patient privacy and confidentiality are also equivalent to in-person care.

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Telepsychiatry is used in a variety of settings, including private practice, outpatient clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, schools, nursing homes, and military treatment facilities. Patients can schedule appointments individually with a psychiatrist or therapist for a live video appointment.

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Currently, 43 states and the District of Columbia have laws that govern private payer reimbursement for telehealth. Fifty states and Washington, D.C. reimburse for some form of live video telehealth in Medicaid fee-for-service. Medicare will reimburse for telepsychiatry services if the community is considered rural, and requires the patient to report to an “Originating Site,” unless that patient has a substance use disorder.