Bradford Frank, MD, MPH, MBA Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks, North Dakota
Thomas Peterson, MD Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks, North Dakota
Sanjay Gupta, MD Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical SciencesUniversity of Buffalo Chief Medical Officer BryLin Health System Buffalo, New York
Timothy Peterson, MD Clinical Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences Grand Forks, North Dakota
Disclosures Drs. Frank, Thomas Peterson, and Timothy Peterson are staff physicians at Rural Psychiatry Associates, whose telepsychiatry practices are described in this article. Dr. Gupta reports no financial relationships with any companies whose products are mentioned in this article, or with manufacturers of competing products.
Medicaid is the single largest payer for mental health services in the United States,29 and all Medicaid programs reimburse for some telepsychiatry services. As with all Medicaid health care, fees paid for telepsychiatry are state-specific. Since 2013, several state Medicaid programs, including New York,30 have expanded the list of eligible telehealth sites to include schools, thereby giving children virtual access to mental health clinicians.
Evidence suggests telepsychiatry can be beneficial for a wide range of patient populations and settings. Most patients accept its use, and some actually prefer it to face-to-face care. Telepsychiatry may be especially useful for patients who have limited access to psychiatric treatment, such as those who live in rural areas. Factors to consider before incorporating telepsychiatry into your practice include addressing various legal, technological, and financial requirements.
