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In Case You Haven't Heard…
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
mental health weekly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1556-7583
pISSN - 1058-1103
DOI - 10.1002/mhw.32313
Subject(s) - anthem , telehealth , mental health , telepsychiatry , phone , telemedicine , health care , anxiety , mental health care , medicine , quality (philosophy) , psychiatry , medical emergency , law , political science , linguistics , philosophy , physics , epistemology , acoustics
The American Psychiatric Association finds video‐based sessions “equivalent” to in‐person care for diagnosis, treatment, quality and patient satisfaction. Yet, insurance hasn't always covered it, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported April 1. Facing surging demand and a potential mental health epidemic, insurers are scrambling to make changes. Aetna Inc. is offering no‐copay telemedicine, including mental health care, until June 4. The insurer has also relaxed its rules to allow for telephone and video therapy and is now reimbursing for additional services such as virtual intensive outpatient treatment for conditions like substance use disorders. UnitedHealth Group Inc., the nation's largest insurer, is offering anxiety and stress management care at no cost through an app called Sanvello and is allowing providers to treat patients by video or phone through April 30. Anthem Inc. is waiving copays and co‐insurance for mental and behavioral health visits through telehealth provider LiveHealth Online.