Telehealth software for speech-language pathologists

When billing insurance, we recommend that you always check with the individual insurance payer to determine whether telehealth services are covered and, if they are, which codes or modifier should be used for different types of services.

It’s very important to check directly with the insurance payer because coverage for telehealth services is constantly changing.

Navigating telehealth reimbursement can be very tricky. In order to find out more about your specific state’s telehealth rules, here are a few resources:

• The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) publishes an annual report that has up-to-date reimbursement policies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia.
• American Telemedicine Association (ATA) also provides a map showing which states reimburse telehealth services.
• Your local state board will have resources and information on how telehealth reimbursement policies relate to your specific license type (LMFT, LPC, etc.).
  Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• Medicare Telehealth Payment Eligibility Analyzer allows you to check if specific addresses are eligible for Medicare telehealth reimbursement.

Connection problems can be caused by a variety of outside factors such as low quality, older equipment, or an overloaded computer (i.e. too many programs running). In general, poor video quality is attributable to a poor internet connection.

Here are some basic steps that can improve the overall quality:

• Use wired Ethernet instead. Wifi will work, but you may experience a lag or some interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. A wired Ethernet internet will give you a smoother, more consistent experience.
• Test your internet connection speed. Use our built-in Internet Quality Check before each session.
• Close other programs. To minimize disruption, close out all other programs running in the background. Adjust your lighting. Small lighting tweaks can make a big impact. Avoid any backlight and make sure your camera is at eye level.

To provide HIPAA-compliant telehealth sessions, you will need the following:

• A computer (laptop or desktop) or smartphone. Newer devices (purchased in the last two years) will be better equipped to provide telehealth sessions.
• An integrated or external microphone.
• An integrated or external web camera.
• An internet connection that is at least 10 Mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 Mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.

HIPAA-compliant telehealth is included in both the Essential and Plus Plans. If you select the Starter Plan, you can add Telehealth for only $15 per month.