Telehealth/Telepsychiatry
Telehealth is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. Telepsychiatry, a subset of telehealth, can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management.
Telepsychiatry can involve direct interaction between a psychiatrist and the patient. It also encompasses psychiatrists supporting primary care providers with mental health care consultation and expertise. Mental health care can be delivered in a live, interactive communication. It can also involve recording medical information (images, videos, etc.) and sending this to a distant site for later review.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is wreaking havoc with the healthcare system unlike anything we have experienced in the past. During this global pandemic, telehealth, including telepsychiatry, is emerging as an effective and sustainable solution for precaution, prevention and treatment to stem the spread of COVID-19.
Medicare, Medicaid and many commercial insurance health plans have implemented changes in their policies on telehealth services.
OPPA will be adding updated information to this page as it becomes available. Keep checking back here, call the OPPA office at 614-763-0040 or send an email to: OPPA@oppa.org if you have specific questions.
None at this time.
