VA Launches Telehealth Program for Rural Vets with PTSD

WASHINGTON - With a focus on improving access to mental health care for Veterans living in rural areas, today the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it has launched a pilot telehealth program that will give rural Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) remote access to psychotherapy and related services.

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This is a great initiative. Unfortunately, I suspect it has serious legal issues.

Texas, my state, and many others have decided that care, when delivered by telehealth (phone, HIPPA compliant VTC....) takes place where the patient is located. This creates a huge licensing problem. Both the VA and DoD only require providers to be license in a state or territory to practice ON federal property. So a person working for the VA licensed in Alaska may practice legally on federal property in Texas. But when that provider calls a patient off federal property in Texas he/she is practicing without a license by TExas (and many other state) standards.
 
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