(Updated March 30, 2020)
To My Current Clients:
For the health and safety of my clients and myself, I will be discontinuing face to face therapy appointments in my office until further notice. However, I will be conducting therapy sessions with my current clients either via a telehealth video platform or via the telephone during our scheduled appointment time. As this will be the first time I have conducted therapy sessions virtually, I ask for your patience while we both become more comfortable with these new modalities. I will be calling you before your scheduled appointment (from phone number 978-578-1251) to make plans for telehealth sessions.
Telemental Health video sessions will take place online in a similar way to Facetime or Skype, but will be at https://doxy.me/katemccarthylicsw, which is a HIPAA compliant platform. A few minutes before the start of your session time, you will go on to https://doxy.me/katemccarthylicsw and “check in” to the online waiting room and then I will start the session at our scheduled time. If you have access to a computer or tablet, those are better options than a smartphone for video sessions, but a smartphone can be used if necessary. During sessions, please try to be in a location where you can have privacy and minimal distractions or interruptions. Using headphones during the session may be helpful for privacy purposes if you have them available as well. If you do have a copay/deductible you will be able to make a payment through the website during the session. Google Chrome, Safari 11+, and Firefox can be used for browsers (iOS users can only use Safari 11+), but you may need to turn on your camera and microphone in your device settings. Also, please note that by law clients must be physically located within the state of Massachusetts during our sessions.
Please read over and complete the Telemental Health Informed Consent form at the bottom of this page. You can save a copy to your computer in Adobe and fill it out and sign it to send to me over Doxy.me when we meet. If you're unable to fill out online you can print it out, take cell pictures, and save them in a document to send. You can also email it to me at katemccarthylicsw@gmail.com, (but please note that Gmail is not HIPAA compliant so I am only using it with clients to collect these forms). Please read the form below over in advance so I can address any questions you may have.
Also, please call the Member Services number on your insurance card to double check telehealth benefits for behavioral health and to ask if you have any copay or deductible due with telehealth. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the government has allowed the majority of insurance companies to cover telehealth (many without copays), but it is a good idea to check directly with your specific insurer to clarify your benefits (especially if you have a deductible) as insurance benefits for telehealth have been changing frequently over the past few weeks.
I will be conducting video/phone sessions during my normal business hours (typically Tuesday-Thursday 8:30am-5:45pm and Friday 8:30am-1:30pm) from my home. I have a temporary phone line set up to use while I am working from home, as my usual 978-921-1088 office number is a landline. My temporary work number is 978-578-1251 (please no text messages). You may want to save this number in your contacts so you know it's me when I call. You also will be able to continue to also leave messages on my work voicemail and I will be checking it daily.
I know that this is a scary and stressful time, but please know that I am thinking of all of you and will continue to support you. I look forward to our ongoing work together. Please check here again for future updates.
To My Current Clients:
For the health and safety of my clients and myself, I will be discontinuing face to face therapy appointments in my office until further notice. However, I will be conducting therapy sessions with my current clients either via a telehealth video platform or via the telephone during our scheduled appointment time. As this will be the first time I have conducted therapy sessions virtually, I ask for your patience while we both become more comfortable with these new modalities. I will be calling you before your scheduled appointment (from phone number 978-578-1251) to make plans for telehealth sessions.
Telemental Health video sessions will take place online in a similar way to Facetime or Skype, but will be at https://doxy.me/katemccarthylicsw, which is a HIPAA compliant platform. A few minutes before the start of your session time, you will go on to https://doxy.me/katemccarthylicsw and “check in” to the online waiting room and then I will start the session at our scheduled time. If you have access to a computer or tablet, those are better options than a smartphone for video sessions, but a smartphone can be used if necessary. During sessions, please try to be in a location where you can have privacy and minimal distractions or interruptions. Using headphones during the session may be helpful for privacy purposes if you have them available as well. If you do have a copay/deductible you will be able to make a payment through the website during the session. Google Chrome, Safari 11+, and Firefox can be used for browsers (iOS users can only use Safari 11+), but you may need to turn on your camera and microphone in your device settings. Also, please note that by law clients must be physically located within the state of Massachusetts during our sessions.
Please read over and complete the Telemental Health Informed Consent form at the bottom of this page. You can save a copy to your computer in Adobe and fill it out and sign it to send to me over Doxy.me when we meet. If you're unable to fill out online you can print it out, take cell pictures, and save them in a document to send. You can also email it to me at katemccarthylicsw@gmail.com, (but please note that Gmail is not HIPAA compliant so I am only using it with clients to collect these forms). Please read the form below over in advance so I can address any questions you may have.
Also, please call the Member Services number on your insurance card to double check telehealth benefits for behavioral health and to ask if you have any copay or deductible due with telehealth. Due to the current COVID-19 crisis, the government has allowed the majority of insurance companies to cover telehealth (many without copays), but it is a good idea to check directly with your specific insurer to clarify your benefits (especially if you have a deductible) as insurance benefits for telehealth have been changing frequently over the past few weeks.
I will be conducting video/phone sessions during my normal business hours (typically Tuesday-Thursday 8:30am-5:45pm and Friday 8:30am-1:30pm) from my home. I have a temporary phone line set up to use while I am working from home, as my usual 978-921-1088 office number is a landline. My temporary work number is 978-578-1251 (please no text messages). You may want to save this number in your contacts so you know it's me when I call. You also will be able to continue to also leave messages on my work voicemail and I will be checking it daily.
I know that this is a scary and stressful time, but please know that I am thinking of all of you and will continue to support you. I look forward to our ongoing work together. Please check here again for future updates.
| telemental_health_informed_consent_final_pdf.pdf |
