HHS has published a fact sheet on changes to telehealth policies following the expiration of the national public health emergency May 11.
Here are four telehealth updates behavioral health providers should know:
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has extended flexibility through May 11, 2024, that exempted opioid treatment programs from requiring in-person evaluations if an evaluation can effectively be conducted through telehealth.
- SAMHSA has added an April 2023 guidance that will continue for up to a year after the end of the public health emergency or until the administration publishes final rules. This guidance regards exemptions to unsupervised take-home medication requirements for patients in opioid treatment programs.
- The Drug Enforcement Administration has extended controlled substance telemedicine flexibilities through Nov. 11, 2023. In addition, practitioners who have an established relationship with patients will be able to continue prescribing controlled substances via telehealth through Nov. 11, 2024.
- HHS has released additional resources on licensure for behavioral health providers looking to provide tele-behavioral health services across state lines.