Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • ESG: THE IMPLEMENTATION IMPERATIVE
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Current News
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Digital Health
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • Transformation
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Unwell in America
  • Opinion
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
  • Events & Awards
    • Awards
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Virtual Briefings
    • Webinars
    • Nominate/Eligibility
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Excellence in Governance
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Diversity in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
      • - Leaders to Watch
    • Women in Healthcare
      • - Luminaries
      • - Top 25 Women Leaders
      • - Women to Watch
    • Digital Health Transformation Summit
    • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
    • - Hospital of the Future
    • - Value Based Care
    • - Hospital at Home
    • - Workplace of the Future
    • - Digital Health
    • - Future of Staffing
    • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
  • Multimedia
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
  • Data Center
    • Data Center Home
    • Hospital Financials
    • Staffing & Compensation
    • Quality & Safety
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Data Archive
    • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
    • Surveys
    • Data Points
  • MORE+
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Technology
March 16, 2020 11:04 AM

Demand for remote psych care soars as coronavirus anxiety mounts

JENNIFER HENDERSON
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Modern Healthcare Illustration / Getty Images

    As COVID-19 continues to spread—along with virus-induced closures, cancellations and social isolation—physical health is hardly the only concern.

    Mental health and addiction services providers have been given new guidance from the state on telehealth services at a time when demand is growing and could reach unprecedented levels.

    Licensed providers in New York who submit a self-attestation to the Office of Mental Health or Office of Addiction Services and Supports will be rapidly authorized to deliver remote services for mental health during the emergency, according to the state. Requirements include that the transmission of services be dedicated and secure and that confidentiality be maintained.

    Though the state issued guidance to expand tele-mental health services in November, the latest guidance would hasten the approval process to better accommodate for the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Commercial insurance and Medicaid reimburse for telehealth services.

    "The anxiety is probably unsurpassed," said Amy Dorin, president and CEO of the Coalition for Behavioral Health. Data has shown that the mentally ill who were in treatment in the 9/11-era fared better than their counterparts who were not treated. But, she added, the coronavirus outbreak is even different than 9/11.

    "This is different because the workforce is worrying about their own health," Dorin said. "The more they stay home, the more challenging it is for our providers to provide services to people who are mentally ill or have substance-use issues."

    The state noted in its guidance that providers have contacted the Office of Mental Health saying that their patients are having anxiety about leaving their homes. And, said Dorin, "Agencies struggle with wanting to provide continuity of care for their clients, and also are very concerned about the shortfall in revenue."

    Telehealth can go a long way in addressing all of those issues, Dorin said.

    Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Saturday directed state-regulated insurers to waive copays for telehealth visits to encourage more people to seek care from their homes.

    Dr. Jorge Petit, president and CEO of Coordinated Behavioral Care, also noted the importance of telehealth and telephonic guidance from the state during the coronavirus outbreak.

    In particular, Petit lauded guidance to reimburse for care coordination handled remotely by care managers.

    People are going to want access to more services outside of in-person visits, he said. And "telehealth will be an important strategy."

    The health care system is going to have to figure out how to readjust to get the right interventions to people in different ways, he said. "This is going to go on for a while. We have to think of this as a marathon and not a sprint."

    Manhattan-based online therapy company Talkspace—which connects customers to licensed therapists through mobile apps and the web—also has seen an uptick in demand.

    Much of that has been driven by services needed to address existing anxiety made worse by uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus, and increasingly, social isolation caused by it, said Dr. Neil Leibowitz, chief medical officer at Talkspace.

    "We've been in the telehealth space for a long time," Leibowitz said. "At times, the adoption has been slower for some groups. When situations like this arise it really shows the value."

    He added that any actions taken to increase access to mental health services is a positive for patients.

    As for the state's guidance for more telehealth providers to come online, it will "help to ensure that our clients are able to stay stable and stay in the community," said Nadia Chait, associate director of policy and advocacy at The Coalition for Behavioral Health. These types of services will help to avoid hospitalizations and emergency department visits "at a time when we want to make sure our health care system has the capacity to respond to COVID-19."

    This article was originally published in Crain's New York Business.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    IBM Quantum System One at Cleveland Clinic_4_0.jpg
    Cleveland Clinic, IBM unveil quantum computer
    Dr. Alice Zheng
    Women's digital health sector poised for growth, venture capitalist predicts
    Most Popular
    1
    More healthcare organizations at risk of credit default, Moody's says
    2
    Centene fills out senior executive team with new president, COO
    3
    SCAN, CareOregon plan to merge into the HealthRight Group
    4
    Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan unveils big push that lets physicians take on risk, reap rewards
    5
    Bright Health weighs reverse stock split as delisting looms
    Sponsored Content
    Health IT Strategist (HITS) Newsletter: Sign up for the latest IT and medical technology news delivered 3 days a week (M, W, F).
     
    Get Newsletters

    Sign up for enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today
    MH Magazine Cover

    MH magazine offers content that sheds light on healthcare leaders’ complex choices and touch points—from strategy, governance, leadership development and finance to operations, clinical care, and marketing.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Modern Healthcare empowers industry leaders to succeed by providing unbiased reporting of the news, insights, analysis and data.

    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Current News
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Digital Health
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • Transformation
        • Patients
        • Operations
        • Care Delivery
        • Payment
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition (Web Version)
    • Unwell in America
    • Opinion
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Events & Awards
      • Awards
        • Nominate/Eligibility
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Excellence in Governance
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Diversity in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Diversity Leaders
          • - Leaders to Watch
        • Women in Healthcare
          • - Luminaries
          • - Top 25 Women Leaders
          • - Women to Watch
      • Conferences
        • Digital Health Transformation Summit
        • ESG: The Implementation Imperative Summit
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Diversity Leaders Gala
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Virtual Briefings
        • - Hospital of the Future
        • - Value Based Care
        • - Hospital at Home
        • - Workplace of the Future
        • - Digital Health
        • - Future of Staffing
        • - Hospital of the Future (Fall)
      • Webinars
    • Multimedia
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Data Center
      • Data Center Home
      • Hospital Financials
      • Staffing & Compensation
      • Quality & Safety
      • Mergers & Acquisitions
      • Data Archive
      • Resource Guide: By the Numbers
      • Surveys
      • Data Points
    • MORE+
      • Contact Us
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing