Telehealth Legal Considerations and Compliance 1.5 CME
This activity has been approved for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
As telemental health care gains in popularity, it gives rise to a number of significant legal and regulatory issues.
Telehealth is the use of electronic means or technology to provide mental health services by any mental health discipline. It is not a separate medical or mental health service. It is simply a different means through which a practitioner can deliver services that have historically been delivered in person in any health field. Telehealth is discipline neutral, meaning that all health disciplines can use the technology modality to provide services.
The research into telehealth has consistently shown it to be an effective delivery system for healthcare services. Some studies have even found telehealth services may actually be preferable to in-person care in certain populations and situations. Children, adolescents, and veterans in particular, seem to especially benefit from the use of telehealth. Telehealth is NOT the be-all and end-all in the delivery of therapy. Nor is it for every patient or every practitioner. Clearly, there are limitations. The limitations may be driven by a particular practitioner’s level of skill or confidence in treating certain cases online.
One of the greatest challenges to patients with health concerns is access to care. As the demand for health services, in all age groups and all diagnoses, increases the opportunity exists to leverage telehealth technology and provide a level of access to providers that all patients deserve. Telehealth has its own set of specific legal rules and guidelines. With the increased use of telehealth in your practice, understanding and complying with the legal considerations is an essential component of a telehealth appointment. This course is to designed for all who practice or plan to practice telehealth care. Upon completion you will have the knowledge and skills to provide high quality care for your patients and maintain compliance with all legal standards.
This CME course is brought to you using a “virtual classroom” that can be accessed 24/7/365 on any device connected to the internet using any network. Once enrolled it will never leave your account and will be updated as needed.
* CME credits for this course provided by The Medical Society of Maryland – AACME Certified CME Partner
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