To our wonderful and dedicated Early Intervention Providers,
We hope you and your families are doing well and staying healthy! During these difficult times, we realize that there has been an overwhelming amount of information regarding the COVID-19 Declared State of Emergency being shared through various channels. We would like to take this opportunity to give you the most updated and clear information that we have received so far.
As many of you know, we have received the
EXCITING news from the NYS Bureau of Early Intervention that beginning March 18, 2020,
TELEHEALTH/VIRTUAL EARLY INTERVENTION visits are permitted for all EI services in Suffolk County, Nassau County, and New York City through April 6, 2020 (NYC providers still have the option to proceed with face-to-face sessions). Should this timeline be extended, we will notify all EI providers immediately.
TELEHEALTH must include video and audio components for the entire
duration of the authorized visit. Please click
here for a guidance document with suggestions on effective ways to prepare for and conduct a Telehealth session.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONTACT YOUR FAMILIES AND OSCS IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER TO BEGIN PROVIDING TELEHEALTH SERVICES!
Things to know:
- Before you can communicate with any family via email or text message, you must immediately have a parent sign the Consent to Email and Text. Click here for the form.
- If you have not already done so, work together with your OSCs to contact the family and obtain parental consent for the use of Telehealth. Click here for the form. Every Early Intervention family must be offered these services and a consent form is needed for EACH service. Please notify us and the child's OSC immediately if you are declining or unable to provide Telehealth services so that we can find a replacement provider.
- The family's decision to allow or decline Telehealth services must be documented in your Session and/or Absent Notes. In the event a family declines Telehealth services, we encourage you and your OSC follow up with them weekly to discuss the benefits of Telehealth services and the possibility of resuming services.
- Billing is due weekly, as usual.
- Tips for providing and billing for EI sessions via Telehealth:
- All Telehealth services must utilize a family training/coaching model.
- All sessions must be provided as indicated on the IFSP. This applies to session length. Session rates are unchanged. Providers should use the same CPT codes normally used.
- Missed sessions prior to March 18, 2020 cannot be made up via Telehealth. Missed Telehealth sessions on or after March 18, 2020 can be made up according to the child's IFSP only through April 6, 2020 at this time.
- At this time, BEI is requiring a parent signature on a Service Log (not the Session Note). Click here for the Service Log. A signature is required on the Service Log for every Telehealth session. This can be mailed/emailed weekly to the parent for signature and should be uploaded or faxed to NYTPS as soon as possible.
- It is also required that original Session Notes be maintained. Session Notes can be mailed to families for signatures or signed in-person once the restrictions are lifted and then submitted to NYTPS.
Nassau and Suffolk counties are strongly discouraging Telehealth evaluations and recommend that agencies wait to do evaluations until the restrictions are lifted.
Please contact your OSCs with any questions related to your specific cases.
We are hosting a Zoom meeting on Tuesday March 24, 2020 at 5:00 PM to review this
NYS BEI FAQ and answer any questions you may have. Click
here to join this Zoom meeting and use Meeting ID:
790 506 322 and Password:
026483 if prompted. Please email any questions you have in advance to
David.Tellerman@nytps.com.
We are here to support you and make this process run as smoothly as possible for everyone. Please feel free to reach out to us with any assistance that you may need. Thank you for your continued dedication and professionalism.
Sincerely,
