Telehealth and Dental Sleep Medicine Panel-Telehealth and Dental Sleep Medicine Guide

Telehealth and Dental Sleep Medicine Guide

Pdf Summary

The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine has developed a guide for using telehealth services in dental sleep medicine practices. The guide provides tips for starting telehealth services, including selecting team members, verifying liability coverage, setting up a private space for telehealth visits, and determining documentation protocols. It also offers recommendations for telehealth technology, such as webcams, external microphones, and internet requirements.<br /><br />When selecting a telehealth platform, practitioners should check state regulations, ensure HIPAA compliance, and understand data access and ownership. Promoting telehealth to patients can be done through call scripts, proactive outreach, and utilizing website and social media. However, some patients may have limitations that prevent them from participating in telehealth visits, such as physical limitations or lack of access to technology.<br /><br />Telehealth can be used in various stages of oral appliance therapy, including screening, patient education, initiation of therapy, selection of oral appliances, delivery, adjustment, and follow-up. Telehealth appointments must provide the same level of care as in-person appointments. For repairs or side effects, a telehealth visit may be appropriate, but in-person appointments may be necessary for physical examinations, appliance fabrication, and replacements.<br /><br />Staff members involved in telehealth should receive appropriate training and have access to patient and staff tip sheets. Workflows need to be adjusted to accommodate telehealth appointments, including obtaining insurance information, obtaining informed consent, and scheduling in-person visits if necessary. Telephone-only visits should be used infrequently and documented properly.<br /><br />Reimbursement for telehealth services should be discussed with payers in advance, and specific coding rules should be verified. Medicare and most major commercial insurers have policies and guidelines for virtual care reimbursement. Practitioners should contact the DME Medicare Administrative Contractor in their state for up-to-date information.<br /><br />Overall, the guide provides a comprehensive overview of implementing telehealth services in dental sleep medicine practices and offers practical recommendations for successful implementation.

Keywords

telehealth services

dental sleep medicine practices

starting telehealth services

telehealth technology

HIPAA compliance

promoting telehealth

oral appliance therapy

level of care

reimbursement

successful implementation