Common use of TELEHEALTH Clause in Contracts

TELEHEALTH. 20.7.1 Contractor may use telehealth, when it deems clinically appropriate, as a mode of delivering behavioral health services in accordance with all applicable County, state, and federal requirements, including those related to privacy/security, efficiency, and standards of care. Such services will conform to the definitions and meet the requirements included in the Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Telehealth, available in the DHCS Telehealth Resources page at: xxxxx://xxx.xxxx.xx.xxx/provgovpart/Pages/TelehealthResources.aspx and as outlined in BHIN 23-018 . 20.7.2 All telehealth equipment and service locations must ensure that client confidentiality is maintained. 20.7.3 Licensed providers and staff may provide services via telephone and telehealth as long as the service is within their scope of practice. 20.7.4 Medical records for clients served by Contractor under this Agreement must include documentation of written or verbal consent for telehealth or telephone services if such services are provided by Contractor. Such consent must be obtained at least once prior to initiating applicable health care services and consent must include all elements as specified in BHIN 22-019 and BHIN 23-018. Contractor shall also provide an explanation that beneficiaries have the right to access covered services that may be delivered via telehealth through an in person, face-to-face visit; an explanation that use of telehealth is voluntary and that consent for the use of telehealth can be withdrawn at any time by the Medi-Cal beneficiary without affecting their ability to access covered Medi-Cal services in the future; an explanation of the availability of Medi-Cal coverage for non-medical transportation services to in-person visits when other available resources have been reasonably exhausted; and the potential limitations or risks related to receiving services through telehealth as compared to an in-person visit, to the extent any limitations or risks are identified by the provider. The provider must document in the patient record the provision of this information and the patient’s verbal or written acknowledgment that the information was received. 20.7.5 County may at any time audit Contractor’s telehealth practices, and Contractor must allow access to all materials needed to adequately monitor Contractor’s adherence to telehealth standards and requirements. 20.7.6 Effective no sooner than January 1, 2024, all providers furnishing applicable covered services via synchronous audio-only interaction must also offer those same services via synchronous video interaction to preserve beneficiary choice. Also, effective no sooner than January 1, 2024, to preserve a beneficiary’s right to access covered services in person, a provider furnishing services through telehealth must do one of the following: 1. Offer those same services via in-person, face-to-face contact; or 2. Arrange for a referral to, and a facilitation of, in-person care that does not require a beneficiary to independently contact a different provider to arrange for that care [BHIN 23-018].