Getting started
Telehealth can expand access to behavioral health care services.
On this page:
Benefits of telebehavioral health
Telehealth can increase access to behavioral health care. Other potential benefits include:
- Reducing the provider shortage.
- Increasing coordination of care.
- Increasing convenience.
- Reducing the need for travel and finding childcare.
- Improving access to specialists.
- Increasing access to timely care.
- Integrating behavioral health care into primary care.
Considerations when adding telebehavioral health services
It is important to conduct an assessment prior to offering telehealth for behavioral health care. Key considerations include:
- Decide which telebehavioral and/or telemental services you will provide. Identify any gaps in your services and the problems you want to solve. Remember that telehealth may not be ideal for certain behavioral or mental health approaches. Common telebehavioral and telemental health services include: psychiatric assessments, individual counseling, group therapy, and treatment for substance use disorder.
- Understand the community you serve. Think about which services your patients need and define the common behavioral health issues in your community. Decide which telehealth services and approaches best match these needs.
- Determine your technology needs. Consider whether your practice requires changes or upgrades to the telehealth platform, investments in new technology, or resources to support ongoing maintenance and tech support.
- Take time for staff training. Spend time to make sure your staff have the skills to do their job well. Help your staff better understand and support your patients with training on the basics of telehealth and behavioral, addiction and mental health disorders. Include cultural sensitivity and accessibility requirements as part of your regular skills training.
Tip: Make sure your patients have access to high-speed internet. This is essential to use video-based telehealth services.
Understanding telehealth and behavioral health laws
It is important to review applicable laws, regulations, policies, and best practices before beginning telebehavioral health services. This includes:
- Getting familiar with federal and state laws. Using telehealth for your behavioral health practice requires following regulations specific to telehealth. Review the different laws for telehealth services, including requirements related to licensure and prescribing controlled substances.
- Researching reimbursement. It is important to understand whether the services you plan to offer are reimbursed.
- Understanding telehealth modalities. Telehealth for behavioral health services can be delivered via video calls or audio-only appointments. Conduct research to see what the best fit for your patients may be.
More information:
Legal considerations — Health Resources and Services Administration
Licensure for behavioral health — Health Resources and Services Administration
Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program — Health Resources and Services Administration
Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth — Health Resources and Services Administration
Research articles and papers — Health Resources and Services Administration
Telehealth policy — Health Resources and Services Administration
Telehealth: Transforming Access to Pediatric Mental Health (video) — Health Resources and Services Administration
Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder (PDF) — Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration
What is Telemental Health — National Institute of Mental Health