1. InnovaTel Telepsychiatry
Jonathan Evans
President & CEO
InnovaTel Telepsychiatry

2. Course Objectives Define telemedicine Discuss trends in telemedicine
Telemedicine providers  

3. What is Telepsychiatry
Telepsychiatry is the application of telemedicine to the specialty field of psychiatry. The term typically describes the delivery of psychiatric assessment and care through telecommunications technology, usually videoconferencing.[1] Telepsychiatry services can be offered through intermediary companies that partner with facilities to increase care capacities, or by individual providers or provider groups. Most commonly, telepsychiatry encounters take place at medical facilities under the supervision of onsite staff.

4. Current Trends Significant increase in demand Accountable Care Act
Improved programming enhancing access to care
Systematic downsizing and closing of the long term (State Hospital) level of care
Increase in merger & acquisitions creating large provider organizations

5. Current Trends
Shortage of qualified clinicians, Psychiatrist, Certified Nurse Practitioners, Licensed Clinical Social Workers
Challenging pace and complexity of regulatory requirements
Complexity and acuity of patient presentation
Movement to Integrated care
Improvement in psychopharmacology

6. Health Care Costs Continue To Rise
5% of U.S. Population
50% of U.S. Population
49% of total health care spending
$11,487 per patient
5% of total health care spending
$664 per patient
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (June 2006). The High Concentration of U.S. Health Care Expenditures: Research In Action, Issue 19. Retrieved from
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (June 2006). The High Concentration of US Health Care Expenditures.

7. Demand For Psychiatry Increasing
Estimated over 50% of all residents in senior living facilities are clinically depressed*
Veterans Affairs (VA) reports veterans needing specialized treatment continues to rise
New young adults continue to be diagnosed with SMI. Increased acuity & complexity
State Hospitals continue to downsize and close across the USA
County jails, state & federal prisons have become the new state hospitals
SOURCE: *Geriatric Mental Health Foundation

8. Psychiatrists by Age

9. The Challenge for Community Clinics
Over the past 22 years have had over 25 psychiatrist
At best uneven/inconsistent care for patients
Wide range in prescribing patterns
Locums option is costly and quality is in question
Significant challenges with access to care

10. Lessons Learned Each community based clinic is unique
Each state has a unique set of regulations
Licensing and DEA requirements can be time consuming and costly
Development of tech specs

11. Lessons Learned
Telepsychiatry is an effective modality in maintaining quality of care across several locations and populations
Treatment outcomes and patient satisfaction scores are essentially the same as traditional psychiatric care
Access has been enhanced in rural and correctional settings

12. Future Trends Increasing acuity & co-morbidity
Estimates of adult mental illness from 2011/2012 based on SAMSHA National Survey, indicates among adults 18 and older, the rate of SMI equals 4% or 9.3 Million
U.S. Census data estimates that approximately 4,329,680 individuals will turn 20 years old each year
Using the rate of 4% we can estimate that approximately 173,182 new individuals will be SMI each year
SOURCE: SAMHSA. (February 2014). State Estimates of Adult Mental Illness from the 2011 and 2012 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health

13. Positive Changes
Recent legislation waiving state licensing requirements for telepsychiatrist providing care to active duty service members. Congressman GT Thompson has provided the leadership at the federal level
Additional legislation proposed to include licensing across State lines for Medicare patients care
Medicare & Medicaid in all states cover telepsychiatry
30 states have legislation requiring private payers to cover telepsychiatry
Movement towards reciprocal licensing between states
SOURCE: American Telemedicine Association. (May 2015). State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis: Coverage & Reimbursement.

14. Jonathan Evans President & CEO
InnovaTel Telepsychiatry LLC