3/25/2020 - UPDATE!
Things are moving in the right direction. Many insurances are now allowing for telehealth or moving in the right direction. Wisconsin Medicaid's communications are still a little unclear but I yesterday I was successfully able to bill for a telehealth session held last week. You guys - we took action and it helped. Thank you. THERE'S MORE TO DO. Please see below for an important alert from NASW WI.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
Act Now! Congress is Considering COVID-19 Aid Packages
Urge Congress to Ensure that Medicare Reimburse for Mental and Behavioral Health Services Provided by Audio-Only Telehealth
Contact your Lawmakers
Congress is developing a third package of legislation responding to the COVID-19 epidemic. We need to make sure this includes a provision to enable Medicare to reimburse for telehealth that is provided by audio-only telephone (versus a smartphone with a video chat app).
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently broadened access to telehealth services under Medicare by allowing providers to use smartphones with video chat apps to provide services, to beneficiaries who are in their own home. This is an important step. However, many Medicare beneficiaries either don't have access to smartphones, don't know how to use video chat capability, or do not have adequate, reliable internet service to support video communications. With social distancing likely to be required for many weeks and months, and with research showing the severe adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness, Medicare beneficiaries need to be able to pick up a phone and connect easily with mental health providers. Please take a moment to contact your lawmakers.
Contact your Lawmakers
3/17/2020 - UPDATE!
Friends and colleagues, our actions are working. I heard from NASW WI yesterday and a representative at Forward Health today that there is quick-ish action being taken to implement an emergency mental health teleheath policy - perhaps even as soon as next week. Still, it's not policy yet. If you have not called or emailed yet - do it! Together we can protect some of Wisconsin's most vulnerable citizens.
Appreciation:
Sending out an enormous thank you to everyone at NASW-Wisconsin who has been leading this fight for many years now. Your actions, your commitment, your passion is working and Wisconsin is a better place to live because of NASW's work.
FAQ:
Question: Can I share this?
Answer: Please do! I don't need the credit. Copy and paste the text, send the link, carrier pigeon it. My goal here is to encourage Wisconsin to do better. Thank you for joining me.
Things are moving in the right direction. Many insurances are now allowing for telehealth or moving in the right direction. Wisconsin Medicaid's communications are still a little unclear but I yesterday I was successfully able to bill for a telehealth session held last week. You guys - we took action and it helped. Thank you. THERE'S MORE TO DO. Please see below for an important alert from NASW WI.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
Act Now! Congress is Considering COVID-19 Aid Packages
Urge Congress to Ensure that Medicare Reimburse for Mental and Behavioral Health Services Provided by Audio-Only Telehealth
Contact your Lawmakers
Congress is developing a third package of legislation responding to the COVID-19 epidemic. We need to make sure this includes a provision to enable Medicare to reimburse for telehealth that is provided by audio-only telephone (versus a smartphone with a video chat app).
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently broadened access to telehealth services under Medicare by allowing providers to use smartphones with video chat apps to provide services, to beneficiaries who are in their own home. This is an important step. However, many Medicare beneficiaries either don't have access to smartphones, don't know how to use video chat capability, or do not have adequate, reliable internet service to support video communications. With social distancing likely to be required for many weeks and months, and with research showing the severe adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness, Medicare beneficiaries need to be able to pick up a phone and connect easily with mental health providers. Please take a moment to contact your lawmakers.
Contact your Lawmakers
3/17/2020 - UPDATE!
Friends and colleagues, our actions are working. I heard from NASW WI yesterday and a representative at Forward Health today that there is quick-ish action being taken to implement an emergency mental health teleheath policy - perhaps even as soon as next week. Still, it's not policy yet. If you have not called or emailed yet - do it! Together we can protect some of Wisconsin's most vulnerable citizens.
Appreciation:
Sending out an enormous thank you to everyone at NASW-Wisconsin who has been leading this fight for many years now. Your actions, your commitment, your passion is working and Wisconsin is a better place to live because of NASW's work.
FAQ:
Question: Can I share this?
Answer: Please do! I don't need the credit. Copy and paste the text, send the link, carrier pigeon it. My goal here is to encourage Wisconsin to do better. Thank you for joining me.
Ready to take action??
As of 3/16/2020 Wisconsin’s Medicaid policy states that they will not reimburse for secure, online, HIPAA compliant mental health services provided by licensed mental health professionals. As mental health provider, I am very concerned that this rule will place some of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable at risk as many therapists (rightly so) transition to providing services primarily online given the current health emergency. It is gravely important that our clients continue to receive continuity of care – and we cannot do so unless Wisconsin acts immediately to update the policy.
In terms of the clients we serve, it is very likely that many of them are experiencing greatly increased anxiety and/or increased social isolation due to this virus. Many of our clients may not feel comfortable coming to clinic offices for services and/or are being advised to implement “social distancing” and not leave their homes. Especially now that schools are closing, it is the time to move to online modalities of treatment. Synchronous “telehealth” mental health treatment is shown to be equal in outcomes compared to “live” in-person sessions.
In this regard, in the current legislative session NASW WI helped to pass a telehealth bill that requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to reimburse independently practicing licensed mental health professionals for tele-mental health services. Unfortunately this bill has not yet been implemented by DHS who is working on rules and procedures. You read that right: although it is currently WI state law that telehealth mental health services be reimbursed, it is not current WI policy.
We need to raise our voices to address this glaring injustice.
Action Steps:
Hello, I’m __(name)__ and I live _(where)__ and I work __(your role / agency / etc)___. I am very worried that as of today DHS is stating that they will not reimburse for telehealth mental health services for Wisconsin citizens with Medicaid or CCS. I am concerned that despite the telehealth bill that was passed in the current legislative session, DHS does not yet have a policy in place allowing for the reimbursement of telehealth services by licensed mental health professionals. In this current health crisis, it is fundamentally important that mental health providers be able to continue to provide services to some of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable in a way that is safe for our consumers and for ourselves. Therapy via secure online video conferencing platforms has been shown in research to be as effective as in-person sessions. Given our national emergency, there is NO reason to delay. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I can be reached at __(where)__. (if you would like updates regarding steps your elected representatives are taking). Thank you!
As of 3/16/2020 Wisconsin’s Medicaid policy states that they will not reimburse for secure, online, HIPAA compliant mental health services provided by licensed mental health professionals. As mental health provider, I am very concerned that this rule will place some of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable at risk as many therapists (rightly so) transition to providing services primarily online given the current health emergency. It is gravely important that our clients continue to receive continuity of care – and we cannot do so unless Wisconsin acts immediately to update the policy.
In terms of the clients we serve, it is very likely that many of them are experiencing greatly increased anxiety and/or increased social isolation due to this virus. Many of our clients may not feel comfortable coming to clinic offices for services and/or are being advised to implement “social distancing” and not leave their homes. Especially now that schools are closing, it is the time to move to online modalities of treatment. Synchronous “telehealth” mental health treatment is shown to be equal in outcomes compared to “live” in-person sessions.
In this regard, in the current legislative session NASW WI helped to pass a telehealth bill that requires the Department of Health Services (DHS) to reimburse independently practicing licensed mental health professionals for tele-mental health services. Unfortunately this bill has not yet been implemented by DHS who is working on rules and procedures. You read that right: although it is currently WI state law that telehealth mental health services be reimbursed, it is not current WI policy.
We need to raise our voices to address this glaring injustice.
Action Steps:
- Call or email your State Representative and State Senator to advocate for the immediate implementation of policy that will allow for reimbursement of tele-mental-heath independently practicing licensed mental health providers.
- If you do not know your state legislators you can search by zip here: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/ (type in your zip code in the field towards the bottom right of page)
- If you are in La Crosse:
- Senator Jennifer Shilling
- Phone: (608) 266-5490
- Email: [email protected]
- Representative Jill Billings
- Phone: (608) 266-5780
- Email: [email protected]
- Senator Jennifer Shilling
- Call or email the Governor’s office and advocate for the same.
- Governor Evers
- Phone 608-266-1212 email: [email protected]
- Share this information with colleagues and other concerned citizens!
Hello, I’m __(name)__ and I live _(where)__ and I work __(your role / agency / etc)___. I am very worried that as of today DHS is stating that they will not reimburse for telehealth mental health services for Wisconsin citizens with Medicaid or CCS. I am concerned that despite the telehealth bill that was passed in the current legislative session, DHS does not yet have a policy in place allowing for the reimbursement of telehealth services by licensed mental health professionals. In this current health crisis, it is fundamentally important that mental health providers be able to continue to provide services to some of Wisconsin’s most vulnerable in a way that is safe for our consumers and for ourselves. Therapy via secure online video conferencing platforms has been shown in research to be as effective as in-person sessions. Given our national emergency, there is NO reason to delay. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I can be reached at __(where)__. (if you would like updates regarding steps your elected representatives are taking). Thank you!
Thank you for joining in advocating for our clients, neighbors, and community members. Together we can make it better in Wisconsin.
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