Lawmakers Considering Psych Care for Telemedicine Comp Treatment

Friday, May 6, 2022 | 0

Lawmakers in New York are aiming to create guidance associated with allowing injured workers access to psychological services via telemedicine.

AB 10149, introduced Wednesday, would amend workers’ compensation law to allow for telehealth visits for “psychological testing, treatment and counseling by psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed clinical social workers.”

The bill would allow for one in-person visit within 12 months of  the first video telehealth visit and within six months of the first audio-only telehealth visit unless “the provider's professional judgment” finds that “an in-person visit service is likely to cause disruption in service delivery or has the potential to worsen the patient's condition” or “would create undue hardship upon the patient or their  family.”

The bill states that a “finding of undue burden shall include consideration of whether travel to and from the in-person visit would cause undue financial burden or unreasonable physical or mental distress.”

The bill was sent to a labor committee.

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