| Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) may be provided via telehealth or telephone ensuring: - Voluntary nature of consent
- Confidentiality
- Preservation of client choice
- Clients right to request in-person services at any time
- Clinically appropriate service delivery
Workforce members shall require a Consent for Services for the use of telehealth and telephone services. - Clients may withdraw their consent at any time without affecting their ability to access MediCal covered services currently or in the future.
Workforce members shall offer non-medical transportation and supports benefits to clients for in-person visits.
Workforce members shall offer same services via in-person, face-to-face contact. - If not available, staff shall arrange for a referral and facilitation of in-person care.
- The referral shall not require client to independently contact a different provider to arrange for that care.
Initial assessments shall be completed face-to-face per best practice guidelines. - Quarterly in-person service shall be encouraged.
Workforce members may deliver Specialty Mental Health Services through telehealth and telephone when those services: - Meet the standard of care
- Are based on client request
- Are within their scope of practice
- Are in the best interest of the client
- Are culturally competent
A clearly established site and in-person contact is required for certain services, such as: - Crisis stabilization
- Day rehabilitation
- Day treatment intensive
- Psychiatric health facility services
- Inpatient psychiatric hospital services
- Crisis residential treatment services and
- Adult residential treatment services
5150/5585 applications may be performed by authorized providers face-to-face via synchronous telehealth in accord with DMH Policy 307.04 Telemental Health for Lanterman-Petris-Short Authorized Clinicians.
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