Rates for reimbursement should be the same for behavioral health regardless of delivery - in office or telehealth. We are offering the same services and care for our clients.
A
Amy Emery LCSW
6 years ago
Some insurances have the belief that for some clinicians, working from home and offering telehealth is a way the provider might be able to save money, and that is how the insurance company has rationalized a lower reimbursement rate for the same service offered.
The reality is, a good telehealth platform that is also HIPAA compliant has a cost, and training to be competent in providing telehealth is an added cost.
Additionally, as a provider who has provided telehealth, it is actually more challenging to provide telehealth vs in person sessions.
Currently, due to health concerns related to COVID 19, as with so many of my colleagues, I am forced to see my clients via telehealth. I still have all of my overhead expenses, plus additional costs due to equipment needed, additional training, and an upgraded telehealth platform.
Lower reimbursement for the same service provided simply is not appropriate.
J
Jessica Guite
6 years ago
This is a critically urgent issue that demands action to sustain support for vulnerable patients and providers. Thank you for your swift action to rectify this problem!
J
Jaime Bissonnette
6 years ago
Allowing insurance companies to reimburse providers at a reduced rate for telehealth services delivered during this crisis is allowing them to profit off this crisis through cost savings.
S
Sherry Tabron
6 years ago
There needs to be equity and integrity in the reimbursement of licensed mental health professionals for the work they do with patients. We are often lifesavers as we provide intervention to those who may be hopeless or suicidal. We do what medication can't do....bring hope! Please respect our training and licensure.
C
Charleen Miele
6 years ago
Please! We are working harder than ever and getting paid less! This is unethical!
M
Marc Tobin PhD
6 years ago
Telehealth sessions are more demanding and draining for the therapist than in office appointments are, and should be reimbursed equally.
B
Barbara Keefe
6 years ago
Do not send me emails
A
Ashlie Befus
6 years ago
Now more than ever mental health services are needed. And as therapists we need to follow and model social distancing while providing the crucial Theraphy to our clients via telehealth. As such we should be getting paid the same by all insurance company’s as we are contracted in person as we are doing the same services for our clients (plus still paying office rents that we can use to protect ourselves and clients). Likewise insurance company’s need to cover clients all for telehealth during this time giving them the same coverage as in person and in fact covering full service too if possible (no copays it deductibles) helping our clients while still paying us providers in full!
M
Marcy Kane
6 years ago
In agreement!
A
Anonymous
6 years ago
Please inform Anthem and other insurance companies..therapists are still paying rent for offices they are not going to during this pandemic. Costs are not reduced while continuing to work through telehealth services.
K
Kimberly Daniels
6 years ago
We are doing the SAME if not MORE work at this time. It's criminal for insurance companies to reimburse at a lower rate.
A
Ann SingerPhD
6 years ago
Please do take this tremendous need seriously!
N
Nancy Bottger
6 years ago
Equal pay for equal work, please! Harder work, in fact. Please stop the insurance companies from unethical behavior!
R
Rose Marie Burke LCSW
6 years ago
My client receives the same skill level of care and compassion regardless of if they’re in my office or they are using telehealth, and I am giving the same amount of time to provide that care.
M
Michael Pierce MD
6 years ago
There are no grounds for offering lower reimbursement for services offered in good faith which may involve increased overhead.
J
Jane Conway LCSW
6 years ago
Telehealth sessions require the same education level, licensure requirements and assessment skills as office sessions. Please require all insurance companies to maintain the in-person (office) reimbursement fee schedule for all providers including
out-of-network agreements. I continue to pay my monthly office lease as well as maintaining a home office.
D
Dee Unterbach
6 years ago
Mental Health is physical health. Physical Health helps mental health. Psyche and soma are inter systemic. Equality
A
Amanda Lynn
6 years ago
Amanda Sirignano, LCSW
K
Karen Foley-Schain
6 years ago
Mental heath clinicians are offering the same level of training and expertise through tele-health as they were with in person sessions. Mental health clinicians working remotely through this virus crisis are incurring the same expenses -including maintaining their office space so that they can return to it and in person visits once the crisis passes - as they were with in office sessions, and mental health clinicians are providing the same amount of session time through tele-health as they were with in person sessions - it is only fair that they be paid at the same rate. In addition, this crisis only increases the need for mental health clinicians to help manage the disruption caused by the virus. This is not the time to discourage clinicians from working with clients whose insurance rate doesn’t support the viability of their practice.
Rates for reimbursement should be the same for behavioral health regardless of delivery - in office or telehealth. We are offering the same services and care for our clients.
Some insurances have the belief that for some clinicians, working from home and offering telehealth is a way the provider might be able to save money, and that is how the insurance company has rationalized a lower reimbursement rate for the same service offered. The reality is, a good telehealth platform that is also HIPAA compliant has a cost, and training to be competent in providing telehealth is an added cost. Additionally, as a provider who has provided telehealth, it is actually more challenging to provide telehealth vs in person sessions. Currently, due to health concerns related to COVID 19, as with so many of my colleagues, I am forced to see my clients via telehealth. I still have all of my overhead expenses, plus additional costs due to equipment needed, additional training, and an upgraded telehealth platform. Lower reimbursement for the same service provided simply is not appropriate.
This is a critically urgent issue that demands action to sustain support for vulnerable patients and providers. Thank you for your swift action to rectify this problem!
Allowing insurance companies to reimburse providers at a reduced rate for telehealth services delivered during this crisis is allowing them to profit off this crisis through cost savings.
There needs to be equity and integrity in the reimbursement of licensed mental health professionals for the work they do with patients. We are often lifesavers as we provide intervention to those who may be hopeless or suicidal. We do what medication can't do....bring hope! Please respect our training and licensure.
Please! We are working harder than ever and getting paid less! This is unethical!
Telehealth sessions are more demanding and draining for the therapist than in office appointments are, and should be reimbursed equally.
Do not send me emails
Now more than ever mental health services are needed. And as therapists we need to follow and model social distancing while providing the crucial Theraphy to our clients via telehealth. As such we should be getting paid the same by all insurance company’s as we are contracted in person as we are doing the same services for our clients (plus still paying office rents that we can use to protect ourselves and clients). Likewise insurance company’s need to cover clients all for telehealth during this time giving them the same coverage as in person and in fact covering full service too if possible (no copays it deductibles) helping our clients while still paying us providers in full!
In agreement!
Please inform Anthem and other insurance companies..therapists are still paying rent for offices they are not going to during this pandemic. Costs are not reduced while continuing to work through telehealth services.
We are doing the SAME if not MORE work at this time. It's criminal for insurance companies to reimburse at a lower rate.
Please do take this tremendous need seriously!
Equal pay for equal work, please! Harder work, in fact. Please stop the insurance companies from unethical behavior!
My client receives the same skill level of care and compassion regardless of if they’re in my office or they are using telehealth, and I am giving the same amount of time to provide that care.
There are no grounds for offering lower reimbursement for services offered in good faith which may involve increased overhead.
Telehealth sessions require the same education level, licensure requirements and assessment skills as office sessions. Please require all insurance companies to maintain the in-person (office) reimbursement fee schedule for all providers including out-of-network agreements. I continue to pay my monthly office lease as well as maintaining a home office.
Mental Health is physical health. Physical Health helps mental health. Psyche and soma are inter systemic. Equality
Amanda Sirignano, LCSW
Mental heath clinicians are offering the same level of training and expertise through tele-health as they were with in person sessions. Mental health clinicians working remotely through this virus crisis are incurring the same expenses -including maintaining their office space so that they can return to it and in person visits once the crisis passes - as they were with in office sessions, and mental health clinicians are providing the same amount of session time through tele-health as they were with in person sessions - it is only fair that they be paid at the same rate. In addition, this crisis only increases the need for mental health clinicians to help manage the disruption caused by the virus. This is not the time to discourage clinicians from working with clients whose insurance rate doesn’t support the viability of their practice.