MassHealth, Massachusetts' state Medicaid program, is integrating telehealth into its behavioral health services.
MassHealth will make teletherapy and telepsychiatry treatment available to its nearly 2 million members using secure and interactive audio and video technology to communicate with providers.
"Tele-behavioral health can help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our provider workforce and remove unnecessary obstacles to provide treatment for MassHealth members who have difficulty leaving their home environment, who live in rural areas and or have other unique needs," MassHealth Assistant Secretary Dan Tsai said in a news release. "In addition, behavioral health providers are also incentivized to promote and utilize telehealth services and are reimbursed at the same rates as in-person visits."
The new telehealth services may be provided by any qualified MassHealth provider, including psychologists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and clinical social workers.