Action Alert: HF 294
Passed the human resources sub-committee 1/27/2021 as HF 89. Introduced to the house on 1/28/2021. Has not yet been debated. With this call to action, we are asking that the House brings it to the floor for full debate. We need them to see the massive amount of providers in the state are supporting this bill and need the action to ensure we are reimbursed at fair rates. Please flood their inboxes tomorrow, Monday 2/22/21. We can continue these requests throughout the week if needed. IMHCA will send updates if the situation changes.
This bill’s covers the following:
- “Telehealth” means the delivery of health care services through the use of real time interactive audio and video, or other real-time interactive electronic media, regardless of where the health care professional and the covered person are each located. “Telehealth” does not include the delivery of health care services delivered solely through an audio-only telephone, electronic mail message, or facsimile transmission.
- a. a health carrier shall reimburse at the same rate as the health carrier would apply to the same health care services for a mental health condition, illness, injury, or disease provided in person b. a health carrier shall not require that an additional health care professional be located in the same room as a covered person.
- Takes effect immediately and includes retroactive applicability to January 1, 2021
The reasons IMHCA is in support of this bill (this may help you to write your own letter if you do not want to use our template(s)):
- Telehealth has increased, but as in-person billing has drastically decreased.
- Mental health needs are increasing nation-wide due to the impacts of loss and isolation with the pandemic.
- Telehealth allows for people to see experts in certain treatment methods to allow the most appropriate and effective services are provided to those in need.
- Telehealth options have not meant a decreased cost for providers: (1) many providers have increased the training they have obtained in this pandemic and with the use of telehealth to ensure competency to serve members; (2) many providers have maintained offices while also providing telehealth services; (3) increased time has been spent outside of billable time preparing for the switch to telehealth services; (4) upgrades were made to computer and security systems or new devices were purchased as they were needed to perform telehealth practices such as HIPAA compliant documentation storage/signing programs and HIPAA compliant platforms for services.
- Our expertise as mental health providers is not less valuable or less skilled with the implementation of virtual intervention. We are a PROFESSIONAL SERVICE with expertise in mental health and this is what has determined the reimbursement rates for services. We are not any less of an expert using telehealth.
Message to Representatives (template):
Dear Representative,
As a licensed mental health counselor/licensed marriage and family therapist/licensed social worker/licensed applied behavioral analyst in Iowa, I would like to express my strong support and request your support for HF 294. This is a bill for parity of telehealth reimbursement for mental health services. This payment parity is necessary to ensure that licensed mental health providers in the state are appropriately paid for their expertise and services in the state as they provide for the increased mental health needs of Iowans. This bill has been drafted and passed the human resources committee. It needs your full attention.
Currently, reimbursement is allowed at 75% of coverage for telehealth services as compared to in-person services. Providers across the state have been working diligently to ensure that mental health services have been provided to Iowans in this time of crisis. Though telehealth service use has increased in the past year, in-person services decreased to ensure that providers are doing what they can to slow the spread of COVID-19. These telehealth services have provided exceptional benefits to Iowans at this time including decreased time to get to appointments, increased access to providers, flexibility in scheduling, access to experts in treatment that they may not have had regular access to before telehealth was so widely used.
With this increase in service to Iowans, there has not been a decrease in the provider costs or expertise. As a mental health provider in the state, I have taken time outside of billable hours to arrange for HIPAA compliant telehealth services. This has included… [include a list or statement of what you have personally experienced or done in preparation for this type of service delivery, whether or not you have to maintain an office, expenses incurred, or the way you have connected with clients who have sought out your expertise or benefitted from telehealth services.] Our reimbursement rates should be based on the mental health expertise and professional services we provide to Iowans and should be equivalent to in-person services.
I strongly encourage you to voice your support and move this bill to the floor for full debate. It is necessary to ensure that mental health providers can continue to provide needed services across the state and address the repercussions of this pandemic far into the future. We are experts in the field and should be paid at rates established for this expertise and service.
Thank you,
Your name and credentials
contact information
_____________________________________________
We are targeting the following individuals as republicans in the House. Find your Legislator if you would like to know who represents you and what district you are in: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/find Please click their names below for contact information or click the email address to send an email:
For the word document of this call to action. Click here: CALL TO ACTION HF 294 2-21-21
Do not delay! LET’S GET LOUD!!