HHS OIG Highlights Medicaid Telehealth Behavioral Health Challenges

The OIG conducted a survey of state Medicaid directors from 37 states that provide behavioral health services via telehealth through managed care organizations. It also conducted structured interviews with relevant stakeholders.

In data gathered in early 2020 before the pandemic, most states reported challenges with using telehealth, including a lack of training for providers and enrollees, limited Internet connectivity for providers and enrollees, difficulties with providers’ protecting the privacy and security of enrollees’ personal information, and the cost of telehealth infrastructure and interoperability issues for providers.

Some states also reported a lack of licensing reciprocity and difficulties with providers obtaining informed consent from enrollees. These challenges limit states’ ability to use telehealth to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicaid enrollees, the OIG said.