Amy Lerman, and Francesca R. Ozinal, co-authors of Epstein Becker Green’s 2019 Telemental Health Laws Survey, were quoted in MobiHealthNews, in “Annual Nationwide Survey Reports Increasing Telehealth Access Legislation, Bipartisan Support,” by Dave Muoio. For more information and to read our analysis of regulatory requirements for mental health and behavioral health practitioners, please see our Announcement, “Epstein Becker Green Finds Telehealth Services Are Increasingly Accessible to Mental Health Professionals Despite Legislative Barriers.”
Following is an excerpt:
Epstein Becker Green has released the annual update to its Telemental Health Laws Survey, a state-by-state breakdown of behavioral telehealth services coverage compiled (as of last year) into a free app.
Broadly, the 2019 update suggests increasing interest and acceptance of telehealth services for addressing behavioral health issues, according to an overview of the updates published by the survey’s authors. This support is largely bipartisan, and at least partially driven by the US’ ongoing opioid epidemic.
“The significant value derived from utilizing telehealth technology in tackling mental and behavioral issues, such as substance use disorders (SUDs), is apparent in the number of bills introduced before the US Congress that include the use of telehealth technology as a strategy,” Amy F. Lerman and Francesca R. Ozinal, both of whom are part of Epstein Becker Green’s Health Care and Life Sciences practice, wrote.
“In [addition], states have taken a variety of different approaches to addressing the opioid crisis, many of which involve the use of telehealth technology. Several states, including Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri, have introduced and/or passed legislation that would expand remote prescribing of controlled substances for treatment of SUDs. … Similarly, Michigan and Missouri permit the prescribing of controlled substances via telehealth as long as physicians adhere to the standards of care applicable to their profession relative to the act of prescribing controlled substances.”
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