Teletherapy

What are Telehealth Services?

Telehealth Services use Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) as means to communicate with, and deliver services to, patient populations regardless of the physical distance between the patient and provider. Using Telehealth services allows the interchange of Protected Health Information (PHI), such as therapists’ and patients’ voices, data, images, and records, to deliver appropriate treatment therapies without the need for travel (Teletherapy).

 

Can you tell me more about Teletherapy? 

Teletherapy is the online delivery of therapy services via high-resolution, live video conferencing. Legacy’s Teletherapy sessions are similar to traditional speech therapy sessions with one major exception: Instead of sitting in the same room, Legacy patients and therapists interact via live video conferencing. 

 

What is the cost associated with Teletherapy?

Medicaid payment structures (such as waivers and Health Homes) are used to pay for services for vulnerable populations, which may cover telehealth services. Additionally, services provided by telehealth are generally covered and accepted by most insurance carriers across the United States. To learn more about teletherapy and coverage, please contact your insurance carrier and visit this page for more information about caregiver satisfaction with telehealth. 

 

When should I opt for teletherapy over an in-person visit? 

We aim to provide quality of care for the children and families that we treat, which includes taking their unique situation and circumstances into consideration when developing short- and long-term treatment plans. If Legacy offers Teletherapy as a choice within the patient’s treatment plan, it may be recommended to opt-in bearing in mind the following: 

 

• Convenience

  • Teletherapy may be more beneficial for children and families that prioritize convenience and comfort. The Teletherapies we deliver at Legacy are all real-time interactions, and therefore, accommodate children and families no differently than an in-person visit would. Since teletherapy bypasses travel requirements, it can ease families’ health concerns and barriers that arise from travel, such as commuting with impaired mobility, for example. 

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• Timesaving 

  • Since there is no need for travel with Teletherapy, it can offer significant benefits for busy families that would simply like to spend less time driving and waiting in our office to be seen without facing delays.

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• Removes Travel-related Expenses

  • At Legacy, we aim to increase and provide access to pediatric populations across Texas. The technological benefits offered by Telehealth allows children and their families to focus on what matters most without concerning themselves on how to receive the care they need. Expenses related to transportation, gas, traffic, and lengthy distance commutes, for example, are all alleviated when opting for Teletherapy services. 

 

What equipment do I need for a Teletherapy session?

We recommend using a broadband internet connection between 50-100 Megabits/second, and a device (such as a smartphone, laptop, or workstation) with up-to-date audio and video quality capabilities. To learn more about how to best prepare for a telehealth appointment, please click here. 

 

 

Is Teletherapy Safe and Reliable? 

Today, it is common to find language and articulation therapies delivered via Teletherapy in clinics and hospital across the United States. The Telehealth services provided at Legacy follow the guidelines and regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and others to guarantee patients’ and families’ privacy and security. 

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Please contact us directly for more information about Legacy’s teletherapy services.