Telehealth Certification In Wisconsin Mental Health Programs
Process for Telehealth Certification In Wisconsin
Only certified mental health and/or substance abuse programs, or agencies planning to be certified as a mental health and/or substance abuse provider, may apply for telehealth certification. The first step in the process is for the agency to write a plan addressing each section in the attached template. The plan is then sent to the Behavioral Health Certification Section of the Division of Quality Assurance.
Provider’s must demonstrate compliance with their approved plan to the Division of Quality Assurance surveyor(s) during a site review or other unannounced focus visits.
Requirements for Telehealth Certification
There are several requirements that must be met in order to maintain certification. Many of these requirements will need to be reflected in compliance policies and made operational as part of the telehealth program. These requirements fall in the following areas subject to additional detail in each area:
- applicable regulatory requirements for the provider’s specific program (Administrative Code DHS 34, 35, 36, 40, 41, 61, 63, and 75)
- requirements related to clinical supervision/collaboration for program staff who provide treatment services via telehealth, background checks, maintenance of professional liability insurance, documentation into the consumer’s record in a timely manner, and other requirements.
- requirements regarding the locations for staff other than the main office of certified program or a certified branch office. Patients must receive the telehealth services at the main office or a certified branch office of the certified program.
- Restriction against providing the telehealth services to consumers who are in-home or in-community.
- minimum transmission standards established by the American Telemedicine Association (see http://www.americantelemed.org/resources/telemedicine-practice-guidelines/telemedicine-practice-guidelines)
- compliance with vendor requirements for the telehealth hardware/software to ensure that the telehealth service is of high quality and as close to a face to face visit as possible.
- orientation and ongoing training to staff on the use of the telehealth equipment, the clinical application of telehealth, safety and security during telehealth visits, privacy and confidentiality, back-up procedures if there is equipment failure, and consumer preparation for telehealth.
- Assuring that patients are informed about the provision of services provided through telehealth, the history of telehealth, success rate of telehealth services, how telehealth sessions are conducted, and the extent to which the program is able to provide treatment services face-to-face versus via telehealth.
- an ongoing method for obtaining consumer satisfaction on telehealth visits and evaluating the results of this survey process for quality assurance purposes
- patient choice of having a face to face visit with a professional or seeing this person via telehealth, to the extent feasible.
- workspaces must be secure, private, reasonably soundproof, and have a lockable door to prevent unexpected entry.
- Efforts to ensure privacy so provider discussion cannot be overheard by others outside of the room where the service is provided.
- If other people are in either the patient or the professional’s room, both the program staff and the consumer must be made aware of the other person and agree to their presence.
- Program staff must verify for the consumer the identity of the staff member who is providing the treatment services via telehealth and verify for the staff member providing the treatment services theconsumer’s identity.
- policy/procedure for technology breakdown that causes a disruption of the session.
- System to Ensure secure upload and download with the vendor’s server. At least 128 bit encryption software must be used.
- assure that no information from a transmission of a telehealth services is stored on the vendor’s servers.
- use of HIPAA Business Associate Agreement if information is transmitted via the vendor’s servers.
How Does Wisconsin Medicaid Reimburse for Telehealth? Check Out The Article Here: Telemedicine Reimbursement Mental Health Programs
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