[HumanSer] Seeking Information

Wed Mar 25 21:59:54 UTC 2020

Michael,

As I said, the federal non-enforcement is only federal and state
governments and third party payors may still have other rules that have to
be followed. In terms of insurance, what you are saying is very true in
normal times around telehealth. It does seem like a lot of insurance
companies are providing relaxation of their rules just for the current
time. It has amazed me how many that I am contracted with in-network are
allowing non-HIPAA platforms and even telephone based sessions in response
to people being home and having limited technology.

Christopher

On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 5:18 PM Michael Abell via HumanSer <
humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Thanks Chris and Doug,
>         As well as protecting our clients and our practices, it is
> important to rememberthat insurance providers have their own criteria.
> There are exceptions to their procedures, but they willrequire
> pre-authorization.  This can take the shape of a phone call to ask for an
> exception.  It is acceptable to use telephonic sessions per some state
> regulations.  An example of this is Cigna.  They normally require a HIPPA
> compliant video platform.  A phone call to request a variance to use a
> telephonic session provides the approval necessary to be covered.  This
> prevents a future problemwith payments.
>
> Warmly,
>
> Rev. Michael “Big Dog” Abell
> MS, LPC
>
> Helping individuals to find their eyes in the dark.
>
> Visionaries Counseling Services
> 700 E Jefferson St. Suite 245
> Phoenix, Arizona  85034
> (480) 369-0805
>
>
> Notice of Confidentiality: This e-mail, and any attachments, is intended
> only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain privileged or confidential
> information. Any distribution, reading, copying or use of this
> communication and any attachments by anyone other than the addressee, is
> strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail
> in error, please immediately notify me by e-mail (
> visionariescounselingservices at gmail.com) or telephone (480-369-0805
> ), and permanently destroy or delete the original and any copies or
> printouts of this e-mail and any attachments.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Christopher L.
> Smith, LMHC, LMFT via HumanSer
> Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 1:23 PM
> To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>; Doug Lee <
> dgl at dlee.org>
> Cc: Christopher L. Smith, LMHC, LMFT <Smith at 4mentalhealth.us>
> Subject: Re: [HumanSer] Seeking Information
>
> Doug,
>
> I was incorrect about the office, it is OCR at HHS that will not be
> enforcing provisions during this time (and yes with limitations):
>
> https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html
> .
> I think the issue, as one example,  is that the infrastructure is not in
> place to manage the rapid increase in the volume of health providers
> engaging in telehealth. Some platforms crumbled under the burden, others
> may have problems executing the volume of BAAs,  and others may have
> technical reasons why they were not compliant even though they had good
> security. As another example, there could be HIPAA violations involved in
> sharing information necessary fo care in the current environment. However,
> as I said before, this only impacts the federal level of these restrictions.
>
> Christopher
>
> On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 4:05 PM Doug Lee via HumanSer <humanser at nfbnet.org
> >
> wrote:
>
> > I'm more in the realm of IT than human services, but I would be
> > extremely surprised if HIPAA rules are suspended because of the
> > coronavirus. If anything, privacy concerns, which HIPAA addresses, are
> > actually raised by this crisis rather than being abated by it. I would
> > urge people to check with their respective orgs to determine what is
> > correct procedure.
> >
> > I am of course open to correction, preferably with references that we
> > all can use. Please understand that I'm not trying to be harsh; I'm
> > just trying to help prevent anyone from making an expensive mistake by
> accident.
> >
> > On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 11:48:00AM -0700, Karen Rose via HumanSer wrote:
> > As far as I know the need for Hyppa compliance has been suspended
> > through this current crisis. So any platform including just the phone
> > is OK for now. Karen Rose MFT
> >
> > Karen Rose MFT/LPCC www.career-therapy.net
> >
> > > On Mar 25, 2020, at 9:42 AM, Michael Abell via HumanSer <
> > humanser at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >    One thing to remember when selecting a platform to use for your
> > practice is to use a HIPPA compliant platform.  Many platforms will
> > state that they are HIPPA ompliant.  It is the responsibility of the
> > clinician to verify this information.  It is also important to make
> > sure that your insurance providers allow the specific platforms that you
> intend to use.
> > The last thing to remember is to check with your state as to what is
> > allowed for telepractice.
> > >    We have all worked very hard to get to this point in our careers.
> > Let us be diligent in developing this valuable asset.  The last thing
> > you want to have happen is to have a provider not allow payment or to
> > have a board investigate your sessions.  These are challenging times.
> > Let's keep our practices safe as well!
> > >
> > > Warmly,
> > >
> > > Rev. Michael “Big Dog” Abell
> > > MS, LPC
> > >
> > > Helping individuals to find their eyes in the dark.
> > >
> > > Visionaries Counseling Services
> > > 700 E Jefferson St. Suite 245
> > > Phoenix, Arizona  85034
> > > (480) 369-0805
> > >
> > >
> > > Notice of Confidentiality: This e-mail, and any attachments, is
> > > intended
> > only for use by the addressee(s) and may contain privileged or
> > confidential information. Any distribution, reading, copying or use of
> > this communication and any attachments by anyone other than the
> > addressee, is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have
> > received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify me by e-mail
> > (
> > > visionariescounselingservices at gmail.com) or telephone (480-369-0805
> > > ), and permanently destroy or delete the original and any copies or
> > printouts of this e-mail and any attachments.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: HumanSer <humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jonathan
> > Franks via HumanSer
> > > Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2020 7:39 AM
> > > To: Human Services Division Mailing List <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> > > Cc: Jonathan Franks <jfranks at nfbtx.org>
> > > Subject: Re: [HumanSer] Seeking Information
> > >
> > > Hello Deborah,
> > > Zoom is a very accessible video conferencing platform. Some mental
> > health professionals have switched to that as well as many employers.
> > > You can use it on the computer as well as an APP. There is also a
> > call-in feature if the client does not have a smart phone or computer,
> > they can simply call into the phone number of the conference you have
> > established.
> > >
> > > Good luck,
> > >
> > > Jonathan
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> > --
> > Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
> > Level Access             doug.lee at LevelAccess.com
> > http://www.LevelAccess.com
> > "There's no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he
> > doesn't mind who gets the credit." Ronald Reagan?
> >
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> >
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