On March 21 the Louisiana Department of Health directed health care providers to transition all of their visits to telehealth, “when medically appropriate and when the same standard of care can be met as an in-person visit.”
As part of the steps it is taking to ensure public health in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the state advised providers to make decisions about the appropriateness of telehealth options on a case-by-case basis, noting that there are still legitimate and valid barriers to delivery.
The state also is requiring a 30-day postponement for in-person visits that can be safely rescheduled. “Providers shall consider the entire clinical picture when determining if a service can be safely postponed, including the consequences to the patient of postponement and the consequences to the healthcare system.”
Providers acting in good faith would not be in violation of either of the directives.
Read more about Lafayette’s transition to teletherapy for mental health services here.