Telehealth will play an increasing role in helping combat veterans receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
The National Defense Authorization Act, recently approved by Congress, lifts a key restriction against behavioral-health consultations across state lines. The change will give military members at small or rural bases the same access to mental health care as those at large bases with major hospitals, the Army Times newspaper reports.
The act grants a new exemption to a requirement that health care providers be licensed in the state in which their patients are treated, the newspaper says. Gen. Peter Chiarelli, who retired Jan. 31 as Army vice chief of staff, told the newspaper that the measure is "the biggest step forward we've seen in two years . . . We just have to take advantage of it."
The federal government already had exempted state licensure requirements for military health care providers in federal facilities treating patients in other federal facilities. The new exemption includes care provided at any location, including civilian clinics and patients' homes, Army Times reported.
The change could especially benefit National Guard and Reserve troops, many of whom do not live far from military bases.
John Pulley
John Pulley has written the Health IT Update blog since May 2011. Prior to becoming a regular contributor to Nextgov, he covered technology for Federal Computer Week and Government Health IT magazines. He has written about government for Federal Times and Air Force Times, as well. Pulley has worked in journalism for more than 20 years. He began his career covering local government for regional newspapers. In addition, he served as a writer and senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education for seven years. In 2006, he founded The Pulley Group, an editorial services agency.
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