The hurdles to broadening tele-behavioral health services for Medicaid enrollees come as the nation "confronts the psychological and emotional impact of COVID-19," OIG said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an increased reliance among states for virtual delivery of behavioral healthcare services for their Medicaid populations, particularly in rural and underserved areas and at-risk communities.
However, a new federal audit, based on interviews with Medicaid directors and other stakeholders in the 37 states that offer tele-behavioral health services, has identified multiple challenges that are hamstringing expansion and adoption efforts.
"Most states reported multiple challenges with using telehealth," said the audit, compiled by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General, "including a lack of training for providers and enrollees, limited internet connectivity for providers and enrollees, difficulties with providers' protecting the privacy and security of enrollees' personal information, and the cost of telehealth infrastructure and interoperability issues for providers."
"Some states also reported other challenges, including a lack of licensing reciprocity and difficulties with providers obtaining informed consent from enrollees," the audit said. "These challenges limit states' ability to use telehealth to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicaid enrollees.
The hurdles to broadening tele-behavioral health services for Medicaid enrollees come as the nation "confronts the psychological and emotional impact of COVID-19," OIG said.
The auditors noted that the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service "has an important role to play in facilitating the exchange of information among states to improve the use of telehealth for behavioral health services."
"We recommend that CMS share information to help states address the challenges they face with using telehealth," OIG said.
"This information could include examples from states that describe how they have responded to these challenges. It could also include best practices from states and information about working with other state and federal partners. Further, CMS could collect information from states detailing their experiences and lessons learned in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that address these challenges."
CMS concurred with the recommendation.
“We recommend that CMS share information to help states address the challenges they face with using telehealth. This information could include examples from states that describe how they have responded to these challenges.”
HHS OIG
John Commins is a content specialist and online news editor for HealthLeaders, a Simplify Compliance brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
OIG foud that most states reported multiple challenges with using telehealth, "including a lack of training for providers and enrollees, limited internet connectivity for providers and enrollees, difficulties with providers' protecting the privacy and security of enrollees' personal information, and the cost of telehealth infrastructure and interoperability issues for providers."
"Some states also reported other challenges, including a lack of licensing reciprocity and difficulties with providers obtaining informed consent from enrollees," the audit said. "These challenges limit states' ability to use telehealth to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicaid enrollees.
The auditors noted that CMS "has an important role to play in facilitating the exchange of information among states to improve the use of telehealth for behavioral health services." CMS concurred.