Lisa Wenninger, LPCC, NCC, BC-TMH, presents:
Clinical, Legal and Ethical Requirements for Telehealth in the U.S.
*VIRTUAL ONLY
Thursday, November 9, 2023
9:00am - 12:15pm
With (1) 15-minute break
Earn (3) CE Credits*
This course trains on clinical, ethical and legal issues and best practices for providing therapy via telehealth, including client confidentiality, security, and privacy requirements from federal HIPAA/HITECH rules, with special considerations for informed consent, safety planning, and crisis management per California-specific state law. Regulations for telehealth across state lines and licensure are discussed. This training is based on ethical codes from professional organizations including CAMFT, AAMFT, ACA and NBCC around distance counseling. This course is in-depth on California-specific regulations and is also applicable to mental health practitioners operating anywhere in the U.S.
Educational Goal:
This course trains clinicians on ethical and clinically sound provision of therapy services in online and distance modalities, called telehealth. This includes how to assess clients for clinical suitability for telehealth, safety aspects, and crisis management for providing therapy to clients at a distance. Documenting telehealth sessions in progress notes and certain insurance billing requirements related to telehealth are explained. This course presents data on telehealth efficacy, and shows how telehealth can increase equity by improving access to care for traditionally underserved populations. This course references ethical codes established by CAMFT and AAMFT and other professional organizations. It outlines Federal regulations and state licensure laws, discusses the Counseling Compact, and details California-specific laws for delivery of telehealth by LMFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and LEPs.
Learning Objectives:
- Clinically and ethically assess a prospective client for suitability for therapy via telehealth.
- Describe 3 aspects of informed consent needed for telehealth clients, including California-specific requirements that are considered best practices.
- Explain how to identify when telehealth is permitted across state lines based on your licensure.
- Name 3 components of a safety plan for a telehealth client.
- Describe 2 requirements for progress notes and insurance billing for telehealth sessions.
- Describe 2 ways that telehealth may increase equity in mental health for marginalized populations and support social justice.
Cost:
$35 - Prelicensed
$45 - Members (Early Bird, before October 31)
$50 - Members (After October 31)
$65 - Non-Members
Lisa Wenninger, LPCC, NCC, BC-TMH
Lisa Wenninger (she/her) is a second-year doctoral student in Counselor Education & Supervision at Antioch University, with a research focus on antiracist skills in counseling, and coursework and experience in teaching teletherapy skills to counseling students.
Lisa has been using video-conferencing technologies since 1999, and was herself trained in delivering therapy via telehealth beginning in early 2019 in her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Lisa is a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider, and recipient of the 2022 CCE Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider training award from the NBCC Foundation. Lisa is a California APCC and a National Certified Counselor.
Even though most therapists have been working online ever since COVID started, there’s a lot to track when it comes to the legal requirements, especially around evolving licensure laws. Many therapists haven’t gone through formal training and may not be up to speed on specific ethical considerations for telehealth. Plus, technologies are changing all the time.
This course covers the legal, ethical, clinical, and technological considerations for provision of therapy via telehealth, including assessing clients for suitability, providing appropriate informed consent, and specifics around safety planning. Legal requirements, including telehealth across state lines, HIPAA/HITECH privacy and security, and documentation and insurance are all discussed. The focus will be on best practices for two-way video therapy conducted using services like Zoom, doxy.me, and SimplePractice, with other telehealth modalities reviewed. This focuses on current details on California-specific laws, and ethics set by the ACA and NBCC, all of which can be considered best practice for all therapists regardless of location.
*VIRTUAL ONLY: A zoom link will be sent to you upon registration.
Note: As of July 2023, the California BBS requires all existing licensees up for renewal and new applicants for licensure to provide proof of 3 hours of telehealth training including law & ethics. *This course meets that requirement.
