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1 1 (November 17, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdcos0001 and id is 1 raw text is: SConr essional Research Servik Changes to Behavioral Health Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic Updated November 17, 2020 Physical distancing measures and temporary stay-at-home orders associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have required changes in service delivery for mental health and substance use (collectively known as behavioral health) treatment. Changes have surrounded relaxing privacy requirements required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules and increasing use of telehealth to deliver behavioral health treatment and services. Some states have also employed other methods of service delivery-such as mobile units-for treatments that cannot be administered via telehealth, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Typically (i.e., outside of the pandemic), mental health treatment is administered in outpatient settings where patients visit providers in brick-and-mortar offices, clinics, hospitals, or specialty facilities. Treatment visits may occur on a regular basis (e.g., weekly, monthly); as a single, one-time visit (such as for an evaluation); or in discrete episodes as full-day or overnight situations as part of more intensive service like residential or partial hospitalization programs. As technology has advanced, some behavioral health treatment providers have utilized telehealth (or telemedicine) modalities such as video conferencing to deliver services (known as telebehavioral health). Substance use disorder treatment works similarly in most instances, with exceptions for interventions utilizing frequent administration of medications, such as MAT for OUD. In MAT using opioid replacement therapies such as methadone and buprenorphine, patients are required by law to attend in person for at least the initial visit for buprenorphine, and daily for methadone. Methadone is administered on a daily basis in federally-certified opioid treatment programs (OTPs; also known as methadone clinics), with some short-term take-home doses allowed for stable patients. Changes to Behavioral Health Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Congress and the Administration have initiated changes to behavioral health services in recognition of the need to continue treatment during the pandemic. The third COVID-19 supplemental appropriations act enacted by Congress-the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136)-provided $425 million to the Substance Abuse Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress. gov IN11450 CRS INS GHT Prepared for Members and Cornmttees oi Conqres3--------------------------------------------------------------------------

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