Gov. Phil Murphy announced departmental actions on Sunday to ensure New Jerseyans have access to telehealth and tele-mental health services to the greatest extent possible during the COVID-19 outbreak.

At the governor’s direction, departments – the Department of Human Services, Department of Banking and Insurance, Department of Treasury, Department of Health, Department of Children and Family Services, and the New Jersey Division of Community Affairs – have identified opportunities to support broader access including the waiving of copays, allowing the use of telephonic telehealth and tele-mental health services, allowing patients to use services from the comfort of their own homes, and increasing flexibility in the technological platforms used to deliver services and more.

Last week, Murphy signed Assembly Bill 3860 authorizing any health care practitioners to provide telemedicine and telehealth services for the duration of the public health emergency declared by the governor on March 9.

“As we continue to strengthen our health care system to meet the medical demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, access to telehealth and tele-mental health services for New Jerseyans will be more important than ever before,” said Murphy in a statement.

Departmental Actions

The Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services is directing the Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and for the Medicaid Fee for Service Program that MCOs and Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare will among other things: provide reimbursement to providers for telehealth, including tele-mental health services, in the same manner as for face-to-face services as long as the services are performed to the same standard of care as if the services were rendered in-person; waive site of service requirements for telehealth, allowing NJ licensed clinicians to provide telehealth from any location and allowing individuals to receive services via telehealth from any location; and permit the use of alternative technologies for telehealth such as telephonic and video technology commonly available on smartphones and other devices.

NJDOBI is directing carriers in the individual, small and large group markets to review their telemedicine and tele-health networks to ensure adequacy, given the apparent increased demand, as well as grant any requested in-plan exceptions for individuals to access out-of-network telehealth providers if network telehealth providers are not available.

The Department of Treasury, Division of Pension and Benefits has directed Horizon to continue to provide 24/7 Access to Horizon Nurse Line over the phone at no cost to members; cover, without cost-sharing, telehealth for in-network providers; Horizon Care Online, a consumer-friendly, telehealth platform, is available to provide telehealth visits.

On Monday, Horizon BCBSNJ announced the second expansion of its effort to make it easier for members to get care from their doctors and other health care professionals by relaxing telemedicine rules to allow telephone visits with providers.

The Newark-based company, which previously announced that members would incur no out-of-pocket costs for telemedicine visits, is now including telephone care when delivered by an in-network health professional.

This change applies to all covered services including diagnosis or treatment of COVID-19, routine care, therapy, mental health and substance use care. This is effective immediately and, along with all previously announced COVID-19 related adjustments and cost-sharing waivers, is in effect through June 30, 2020, unless otherwise extended.

“This modification empowers our members, including our Medicare and Medicaid members, to more easily follow social distancing guidelines while still getting care from the doctors and health professionals they depend on,” said Kevin Conlin, chairman, president and CEO of Horizon BCBSNJ. “Whether for routine care, an assessment related to possible COVID-19 infection or for mental health counseling, this change reflects Horizon’s commitment to put the health and well-being of our members and their preferred health professionals first.”

Horizon BCBSNJ is waiving member cost-sharing for covered telemedicine visits, which now include common video platforms such as Facetime and Skype as well as telephone-only, with in-network health professionals. Members seeking care from out-of-network providers may still get covered services from their preferred health care professional using these platforms or by phone, but they remain responsible for out-of-network cost-sharing payments according to the terms of their individual policy.

Editor’s Note: This article was updated on March 23, 2020, at 2:22 p.m. EST to include how Horizon BCBSNJ was expanding its telehealth visits.