We are not aware of any specific rules and regulations of the practice of telemental health services for Counselors. We are not aware of any specific rules and regulations of the practice of telemental health services for Social Workers. We are not aware of any specific rules and regulations of the practice of telemental health services for MFTs. 431:10A‑116.3 ""Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications services, as defined in section 269‑1, to encompass four modalities: store and forward technologies, remote monitoring, live consultation, and mobile health; and which shall include but not be limited to real-time video conferencing-based communication, secure interactive and non‑interactive web-based communication, and secure asynchronous information exchange, to transmit patient medical information, including diagnostic-quality digital images and laboratory results for medical interpretation and diagnosis, for the purpose of delivering enhanced health care services and information while a patient is at an originating site and the health care provider is at a distant site. Standard telephone contacts, facsimile transmissions, or e-mail text, in combination or by itself, does not constitute a telehealth service for the purposes of this chapter." "A person not licensed in the State who wishes to engage in the practice of psychology for a period not to exceed ninety days within a calendar year shall petition the board for a temporary permit. If the person is licensed or certified in another state deemed by the board to have standards equivalent to this chapter, the person shall be entitled to a temporary permit in the same manner and subject to the same conditions specified in section 465-8 applicable to the issuance of licenses. The period of ninety days may be extended at the discretion of the board but not to exceed ninety days" Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. 453-1.3 Practice of telemedicine “(a) Nothing in this section shall preclude any physician acting within the scope of the physician's license to practice from practicing telemedicine as defined in this section. (b) For the purposes of this section, "telemedicine" means the use of telecommunications services, including real-time video or web conferencing communication or secure web-based communication to establish a physician-patient relationship, to evaluate a patient, or to treat a patient. "Telehealth" as used in chapters 431, 432, and 432D, includes "telemedicine" as defined in this section. 2 (c) Telemedicine services shall include a documented patient evaluation, including history and a discussion of physical symptoms adequate to establish a diagnosis and to identify underlying conditions or contraindications to the treatment recommended or provided. (d) Treatment recommendations made via telemedicine, including issuing a prescription via electronic means, shall be held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those in traditional physician-patient settings that do not include a face to face visit but in which prescribing is appropriate, including on-call telephone encounters and encounters for which a follow-up visit is arranged. Issuing a prescription based solely on an online questionnaire is not a treatment for the purposes of this section and does not constitute an acceptable standard of care. For the purposes of prescribing a controlled substance, a physician-patient relationship shall be established pursuant to chapter 329. (e) All medical reports resulting from telemedicine services are part of a patient's health record and shall be made available to the patient. Patient medical records shall be maintained in compliance with all applicable state and federal requirements including privacy requirements. (f) A physician shall not use telemedicine to establish a physician-patient relationship with a patient in this State without a license to practice medicine in Hawaii. Once a provider-patient relationship is established, a patient or physician licensed in this State may use telemedicine for any purpose, including consultation with a medical provider licensed in another state, authorized by this section, or as otherwise provided by law.” Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. 453-1.3(c) "Treatment recommendations made via telehealth, including issuing a prescription via electronic means, shall be held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those in traditional physician-patient settings that do not include a face-to-face visit but in which prescribing is appropriate, including on-call telephone encounters and encounters for which a follow-up visit is arranged. Issuing a prescription based solely on an online questionnaire is not treatment for the purposes of this section and does not constitute an acceptable standard of care. For the purposes of prescribing opiates or certifying a patient for the medical use of cannabis, a physician-patient relationship shall only be established after an in-person consultation between the prescribing physician and the patient." Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. We are not aware of any specific rules and regulations of the practice of telemental health services for Nurses. 453-1.3(c) “Treatment recommendations made via telehealth, including issuing a prescription via electronic means, shall be held to the same standards of appropriate practice as those in traditional physician-patient settings that do not include a face-to-face visit but in which prescribing is appropriate, including on-call telephone encounters and encounters for which a follow-up visit is arranged. Issuing a prescription based solely on an online questionnaire is not treatment for the purposes of this section and does not constitute an acceptable standard of care. For the purposes of prescribing opiates or certifying a patient for the medical use of cannabis, a physician-patient relationship shall only be established after an in-person consultation between the prescribing physician and the patient.” Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. Source: HI Rev Stat § 346-59.1 (2017) [§346-59.1] Coverage for telehealth. (a) The State's Medicaid managed care and fee-for-service programs shall not deny coverage for any service provided through telehealth that would be covered if the service were provided through in-person consultation between a patient and a health care provider. (b) Reimbursement for services provided through telehealth shall be equivalent to reimbursement for the same services provided via face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient. Nothing in this section shall require a health care provider to be physically present with the patient at an originating site unless a health care provider at the distant site deems it necessary. (c) There shall be no geographic restrictions or requirements for telehealth coverage or reimbursement under this section. …. Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. Originating Site Reimbursement: According to Statute, the patient’s home and other non-medical environments are allowable originating sites for reimbursement. See statute above. Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 431:10A-116.3 Coverage for telehealth. [Section effective January 1, 2017] (a) It is the intent of the legislature to recognize the application of telehealth as a reimbursable service by which an individual shall receive medical services from a health care provider without face-to-face contact with the health care provider. (b) No accident and health or sickness insurance plan that is issued, amended, or renewed shall require face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient as a prerequisite for payment for services appropriately provided through telehealth in accordance with generally accepted health care practices and standards prevailing in the applicable professional community at the time the services were provided. The coverage required in this section may be subject to all terms and conditions of the plan agreed upon among the enrollee or subscriber, the insurer, and the health care provider. (c) Reimbursement for services provided through telehealth shall be equivalent to reimbursement for the same services provided via face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient. Nothing in this section shall require a health care provider to be physically present with the patient at an originating site unless a health care provider at the distant site deems it necessary. …. Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. Source: HI Revised Statutes § 431:10A-116.3 431:10A-116.3 Coverage for telehealth. [Section effective January 1, 2017] (a) It is the intent of the legislature to recognize the application of telehealth as a reimbursable service by which an individual shall receive medical services from a health care provider without face-to-face contact with the health care provider. (b) No accident and health or sickness insurance plan that is issued, amended, or renewed shall require face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient as a prerequisite for payment for services appropriately provided through telehealth in accordance with generally accepted health care practices and standards prevailing in the applicable professional community at the time the services were provided. The coverage required in this section may be subject to all terms and conditions of the plan agreed upon among the enrollee or subscriber, the insurer, and the health care provider. (c) Reimbursement for services provided through telehealth shall be equivalent to reimbursement for the same services provided via face-to-face contact between a health care provider and a patient. Nothing in this section shall require a health care provider to be physically present with the patient at an originating site unless a health care provider at the distant site deems it necessary. …. Refer to the source provided for all requirements and limitations. We are not aware of any permission that allows for services delivered by out-of-state providers.Counselors
Social Workers
Marriage and Family Therapists
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Hawaii Professional Regulation/Health & Safety Online Prescribing
Nurses
Hawaii Professional Regulation/Health & Safety Online Prescribing
Medicaid Telehealth Parity Law
Private Pay Telehealth Parity Law
Payment Parity
Permission for the Temporary Practice of Clinicians Licensed Outside the State
Hawaii
Note: As this is a free resource and Rules and Regulations regarding Telehealth are always changing, we appreciate any updates or corrections. They can be emailed to us at [email protected] with a link to the source or a citation of the rule or regulation.
Telemental health is not a separate service from mental health services. All state licensing boards require that licensed clinicians follow all the regulations for practicing under their license no matter what medium of communication is used. All licensing boards also require that clinicians only practice within the boundaries of their competence. This usually requires education, continuing education, and/or supervision in telemental health. Complete our telehealth training program to cover all the essential competencies of providing telemental health services and earn the THTC (Telemental Health Training Certificate).
The course was so informative and I was glued to my screen for the entire duration. I received so much knowledge concerning ethics in telehealth and I am greatly encouraged to read about all the standards and policies that pertain to my practice. Thank you!.