Jennifer Nolan, APRN

 

WHAT IS TELEMENTAL HEALTHCARE?
Telemental health is a subset of telehealth services that uses online, interactive videoconference software to provide mental health services from a distance.  Telehealth does not include the use of fax, audio-only telephone, e-mail, or videotelephony products such as FaceTime and Skype.

SOME POTENTIAL RISKS OF TELEMENTAL HEALTH
• Technological failures such as unclear video, loss of sound, poor internet connection, or loss of internet connection
• Nonverbal cues might be more difficult to observe and interpret during therapist and client interactions

BENEFITS OF TELEMENTAL HEALTH
• Less limited by geographical location, transportation concerns and risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.  
• Ability to participate in treatment from your own home or other environment where you feel safe, secure, and comfortable

ELIGIBILITY
Minding Your Health, LLC is only able to provide telemental health services to clients located in Connecticut where Jennifer Nolan, APRN holds a license. Telemental health may not be the most effective form of treatment for certain individuals or presenting problems.   In addition, this option would limited to this time of COVID-19 pandemic and in limited other situations as agreed upon by the provider and approved by insurance providers. 
 
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
 Telemental health services are provided through the HIPAA compliant, secure software via VSee. No permanent video or voice recordings are kept from telemental health sessions. Clients may not record or store video from sessions.

CLIENT EXPECTATIONS DURING TELEMENTAL HEALTH SESSIONS
• Mac/PC/Chromebook, smart phone, or tablet with camera, microphone, and speakers
• Internet connection with at least 750kb/s download and upload speeds
• Access to Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox (latest release versions) web browsers
• Proper lighting and seating to ensure a clear image of each party’s face
• Dress and environment appropriate to an in-office visit
• Engage in sessions in a private location where you cannot be heard by others
• Only agreed upon participants will be present; the presence of individuals unapproved by both parties will be cause for termination of the session
• Client must disclose the physical address of their location at the start of the session; unknown locations will be cause for termination of the session
• Client shall provide a phone number where they can be reached in the event of service disruption

EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
Client is to provide the name and contact information for a local emergency contact. In the case of a mental health emergency during a telemental health session where a client is at imminent risk of harming themselves or someone else, Jennifer Nolan, APRN will contact the client’s local emergency services. The contact information for the client’s nearest emergency room will also be on record. Release of Information forms will be completed for necessary entities unless confidentiality must be breached to protect the safety of the client or another identified individual.

PAYMENT PROCEDURES
Insurance companies can be billed for telemental health services.  At this time the practice is negotiating with Cigna, Aetna, Anthem, Tufts, Optum (includes United and Connecticare).  Medicaid does not reimburse for telemental health, though the CT APRN's are working tirelessly to support Medicaid reimbursement for services during this time and more information will be available at the end of this week or beginning of next.  Information regarding Medicare reimbursement is not known at this time.  
It is the sole responsibility of the patient to contact their insurance provider to ensure these services are covered.  If the services are denied, the cost of the appointment is the sole responsibility patient or guardian.  
Client must pay for telemental health services using a credit card at the time of service.  
All patients who wish to utilize telemental health options will be required to sign an additional consent agreeing to the requirements above through the client portal.  The use of the portal for signatures, forms and scheduling is required for telemental health sessions.  
I encourage all patients to access the patient portal as updates for office policies, HIPAA and releases of information are easiest to accomplish through this means.