Access to telehealth services is arguably more important now than ever before. Nationwide, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant shift away from in-person health services towards telehealth.¹ On the provider side, temporary or permanent office closures and, in some cases, staffing shortages have forced patients away from in-person care. On the patient side, fears of infection and financial issues have led many to forego healthcare.²

The pandemic has also had wide-ranging implications on mental health. Research supports that factors including social distancing, quarantine, infection exposure and recovery, loss of economic opportunity, and social inequality can have significant detrimental effects on mental health.³ Globally, the effects of COVID-related bereavement, isolation, fear, and reduced income are prompting or aggravating mental illness, and the demand for mental health services has increased⁴.

In the States, the pandemic has shifted the narrative on telehealth — not only are more Americans utilizing remote services more frequently, but they're reporting greater confidence in the quality of care provided. In March, 2021, Sykes Enterprises surveyed 2000 Americans and found that nearly 80% of respondants believed it was possible to receive quality care through telehealth services. In contrast, the results of their 2020 survey found that more than 56% reported that it was not possible for telehealth to provide the same level of care as in-person services.⁵

The good news is that, with respect to teletherapy in particular, this shift in the perception of the efficacy of remote services is warranted. A comprehensive 2013 review of 70 studies and 15 telepsychiatric literature articles found that "telemental health" — referring to both telepsychiatry and other psychological services — was not only found to be effective for a variety of ages, ethnicities, disorders, and in a variety of settings, but also to be comparatively effective with in-person care.⁶

In July, 2021, Illinois took significant steps to expand teletherapy access within the state when Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed HR 3308 into law. The bill mandates that patients receive coverage parity for virtual mental health and substance use disorder services,⁷* which means insurance companies are required to equally reimburse Illinoians for these services as they would for other medical conditions.⁸ Additionally, the bill affords residents greater flexibility in their care options by expanding available early-intervention telehealth services and prohibiting insurance companies from requiring in-person appointments prior to telehealth ones, while still preserving their right to seek in-person care if preferred.⁷

(* Note: HR 3308 includes the following language which appears to indicate that parity provisions may also apply to out-of-network services so long as coverage policies do not distinguish these services from in-network ones:

Any policy, contract, or certificate of health insurance coverage that does not distinguish between in-network and out-of-network health care professionals and facilities shall be subject to this Section as though all health care professionals and facilities were in-network.)

MindVault Health recognizes both the need and also the demand for increased teletherapy options in Illinois. We view this as opportunity to occupy the treatment space as a prominent virtual mental health provider and ensure that clients can receive exceptional care in their homes. Those with out-of-network mental health coverage can enjoy superbill reimbursement for a portion or all of their MindVault Health service cost, while a primarily self-pay business model enables us to focus on providing the highest standard of care possible, free of regulations from insurance providers that can significantly restrict the course of treatment.

For the foreseeable future, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to pervade our lives. We're encouraged by recent efforts to expand access to teletherapy services throughout the state, but the toll of adjustment and adaptation on Illinoians' mental health is likely to extend beyond the pandemic itself. We're here to answer the call and shine a beacon of hope for those in need.