Teletherapy & Telepsychiatry During Covid 19

In regards to mental health services provided online, we often use the term telehealth. Telepsychiatry is another term, when the appointment or visit is with a Psychiatrist. Televisit may be another way the appointment with a therapist (someone that does not prescribe medications) may be described. Online visits incorporate the use of a video camera, a microphone, and speakers. Often computers have these already internally installed, or additional equipment can be purchased to plug into a laptop or computer. Smart phones also have these capabilities. 

Some companies may ask you to download a software to use while videoconferencing, but others are integrated into a website and there is no need for a software download. You simply click the link on a device that has the above requirements and you can use the website to access your appointment. 

Privacy regarding health information is very important. Many software companies are offering Hipaa compliant televideo conferencing services for your therapist or psychiatrist to use. In fact some of these services are free, such as https://www.doxy.me

At Inland Psychiatric Medical Group Inc in Southern California, we have been utilizing doxy.me as well as Kareo's integrated teleappointment software as well.

Online therapy or behavioral health services are often covered by health insurance plans, but may not always be, and so it is important to talk to your insurance company about what might be covered and if there is any difference in coverage between in-person visits and online visits. 

In light of COVID-19, many insurances are now newly covering online visits and so, even if in the recent past they had not been, its important to know if this has changed recently with your own medical insurance. Medicare is covering online appointments.

Sometimes if an insurance company is not covering the services, they will let you use your FSA funds towards the cost of the appointment. 

Online therapy or telehealth can be helpful in a health crisis such as the current COVID-19 crisis by helping with social distancing, limiting the spread of the infection, and reducing the risk of transmission of the infection. 

Having continued access to your therapist or psychiatrist is important and ofcourse during this heightened time of stress, it might be even more important for your mental health. Often medications prescribed by psychiatrists can be sent by an electronic prescription directly to the pharmacy and the pharmacy can offer home delivery, which further aids in lowering the risk of transmission of the virus. 

Some people may at first find televisits to be cumbersome, or intimidating due to the technology needed. For instance some people may not be familiar with using a computer, laptop, notepad, or smart phone. Its important to reach out to your friends and family that you know may not be technologically savvy and to help them set up their electronic devices so that they can continue to engage in care not only with their mental health professionals but with their other doctors as well.

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