Telemental Health
Overview
Telemental Health has been shown to successfully impact issues of access, quality, engagement, coordination of care, and cost effectiveness. Along with other aspects of telemedicine, Telemental Health is predicted to grow rapidly over the next few years with more customers and health care consumers requesting the technology. To ensure best practices, major clinical associations have developed and released best practices and guidelines.
Consistent with the American Psychological Association (APA), American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and other best practice guidelines, Telemental Health can be delivered in a variety of settings. Services can include both initial evaluations and ongoing treatment, including psychotherapies and medication management. Patient acuity can range from routine to emergent. Telemental Health can be seen as an additional option for those patients receiving face-to-face treatment or may serve as the primary treatment modality.
In general there are no current clinical contraindications to the delivery of Telemental Health. Choosing what cases are appropriate for Telemental Health versus traditional face-to-face treatment is ultimately at the discretion of the referring and/or treating clinician. Each provider must determine what services can be safely and effectively delivered based on the unique clinical needs of the individual patient and patient location (originating site) when services are delivered. If, at any time, the provider determines that an individual receiving Telemental Health care is at potential risk due to the delivery model, referral and treatment in the traditional setting must be secured.
Optum Behavioral Network Services is committed to support of our network providers by providing the following:
- Variety of educational documents
- Recommended office checklist
- Provider protocols
- Telemental Health Guidelines
- Technology requirements
- Direct access to the ATA’s online course Delivering Online Video Based Mental Health Services at a reduced cost
- Process steps for confirming what Telemental Health services are covered by members’ health plans
- Billing requirements
Get Started Now
Prior to delivering Telemental Health services, if you are an individually-credentialed provider*, you are required to electronically sign the Telemental Health automated Attestation.
*
Step 1: Review the attestation requirements
Step 2: Review the Telemental Health services resource documents
Step 3: Complete the American Telemedicine Association Online Telemental Training Course
Step 4: Click on the appropriate Attestation button
The completed attestation will be submitted to Optum Network Services for review. Once all internal processes are complete, Optum Network Services will communicate that you may begin delivering Telemental Health Services.
If you are not an individually-credentialed provider, but wish to deliver Telemental Health services, please contact Network Management at 877-614-0484.
We encourage you to review these resources and if you are interested in delivering Telemental Health services to your patients or you already use this modality to deliver services, review the requirements for signing Optum’s Telemental Health Attestation by clicking here.
Note: The coverage of the delivery of Telemental Health services is different for every health plan. It is the responsibility of the provider to complete verification of what Telemental Health services are covered under the benefit plan of the customer and if there is a requirement on where the member must be located (originating site) at the time services are rendered.
Steps for Delivery of Telemental Health Services to Optum Members
Are you interested in adding Telemental Health services to your areas of expertise, or are you already delivering Telemental Health services to your clients and you would like to include Optum members? Are you contracted in the Optum network?
If so, follow the steps below to begin:
- Review the Telemental Health Attestation requirements (click on Step 1: Attestation Requirements below)
- Review the Telemental Health services resource documents (click on Step 2: Telemental Health Resource Documents below)
- Complete the American Telemedicine Association Online Telemental Training Course. This course will walk you through all of the requirements to deliver Telemental Health services. The online course is roughly 3 hrs. long, and can be taken at your leisure. You will receive a specially negotiated rate ($149 vs. the standard $199), and completion is worth 3 CEUs. Completion of the course is not required but is highly recommended. (click on Step 3: ATA Online Training Course below)
- Once you’ve reviewed the materials, click on the appropriate Attestation button. You will be asked to attest to a number of requirements, as well as provide information regarding licensure. Once complete—this completed attestation will be sent to Network Services for validation. (click on Step 4: Telemental Health Attestation below - )
The completed attestation will be submitted to Optum Network Services for review, and will reach out to you if there are any questions or if verifications are necessary.
Once all internal processes are complete, Optum Network Services will communicate that you may begin delivering Telemental Health services.
Note: This is only for individually-credentialed providers in the Optum network.
- Nomenclature List
- FAQs
- Checklist Protocol: Originating Site, Distant Site, Telemental Health Provider
- Recommended Protocol for Delivering Telemental Health Services
- Provider Best Practices
- Verification Process: What TMH Services are Covered Per Members’ Benefit Plan
- Requirements for Billing Telemental Health
- Technology Requirements
American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Guidelines
Optum and ATA are collaborating together to provide you with easy access to their guidelines for delivering Telemental Health service.
- Practice Guidelines for Video-Based Online Mental Health Services (published 2013)
- A Lexicon Assessment and Outcome Measurements for Telemental Health (published 2013)
- Practice Guidelines for Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health (published 2009)
- Evidence-Based Practice for Telemental Health (published 2009)
PLEASE NOTE: When completing the Telemental Health Attestation (Step 4), you will be asked if you have completed the ATA Delivering Online Video Based Mental Health Services online course─this is not required, however highly recommended.
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies. ATA and its diverse membership work to fully integrate telemedicine into transformed health care systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of health care throughout the world.
Established in 1993 as a non-profit organization and headquartered in Washington, DC, membership in the ATA is open to individuals, health care institutions, companies and other organizations with an interest in promoting the deployment of telemedicine throughout the world. ATA is governed by a Board of Directors, which is elected by the Association's membership.
Optum and ATA are collaborating together to provide you with easy access to their training for delivering Telemental Health service.
Take advantage of our specially negotiated rate and earn 3.0 CE credits
Delivering Online Video Based Mental Health Services
Take this online course for only $149 – that’s $50 less than the standard price! (Course will take approx. 3 hrs.)
- Not required, but highly recommended
Instructions on Registering for this exclusive rate:
- Click the online course link. You will be directed to the course page on the ATA Learning Center.
- Click the “Buy Now” button to purchase the course for $149.
- A popup box will appear. Click “checkout.”
- On the Cart Summary page, select the blue “Checkout” button to proceed.
- You will be prompted to login or create a new account. If you have an existing ATA member account, please enter your login credentials. If you are not an ATA member, please create an account.
- You will be directed back to the Learning Center to continue the checkout process.
Prior to delivering Telemental Health services, each provider is required to electronically sign the Telemental Health automated attestation.
If you are an individually-credentialed provider
- Click on the appropriate link below and complete attestation. You will be asked to electronically complete and sign.
- Once you receive confirmation Attestation is complete, it will be sent to Optum Behavioral Network Services for validation.
- You will receive confirmation from Optum once validation is confirmed and you may begin delivering Telemental Health services.
Prescribers (Do not complete if you are not contracted with Optum)
Non-Prescribers (Do not complete if you are not contracted with Optum)
If you are not an individually-credentialed provider, but wish to deliver Telemental Health services, please contact Network Management at 877-614-0484.
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