Page 23 50 State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis Coverage and Reimbursement

50 State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis: Coverage & Reimbursement

Figure 12

It is also more common for states with telemental health coverage to allow physicians that are
psychiatrists, advanced practice nurses with clinical specialties, and psychologists to perform the
telemedicine encounter. However, many states allow non-medical providers to perform and
reimburse for the telemedicine encounter. States including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York,
North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming
cover telemedicine when performed by a licensed social worker. Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas,
Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming cover telemedicine when provided by a
licensed professional counselor.

Further, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Washington are the only states to specify coverage for
telemedicine when provided by behavioral analysts. This trend is unique because these
specialists are critical for the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.

The lowest ranking states, which scored an F, are Connecticut and Rhode Island which have no
coverage for telemedicine under their Medicaid plans. Iowa improved their grade from an ‘F’ to
‘B’ due to expanded service coverage offered through a contracted plan.

J. Rehabilitation Services

The ATA telerehabilitation guidelines define telerehabilitation as the “delivery of rehabilitation
services via information and communication technologies. Clinically, this term encompasses a
range of rehabilitation and habilitation services that include assessment, monitoring, prevention,
intervention, supervision, education, consultation, and counseling”. Rehabilitation professionals
utilizing telerehabilitation include: neuropsychologists, speech-language pathologists,
audiologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
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American Telemedicine Association
2015