1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i Changes to Behavioral Health Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic Updated November 17, 2020 Physical distancing measures and temporary stay-at-home orders associated with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
2、have required changes in service delivery for mental health and substance use (collectively known as behavioral health) treatment. Changes have surrounded relaxing privacy requirements required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules and increasing use of telehealth
3、to deliver behavioral health treatment and services. Some states have also employed other methods of service deliverysuch as mobile unitsfor treatments that cannot be administered via telehealth, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Typically (i.e., outside of t
4、he pandemic), mental health treatment is administered in outpatient settings where patients visit providers in brick-and-mortar offices, clinics, hospitals, or specialty facilities. Treatment visits may occur on a regular basis (e.g., weekly, monthly); as a single, one-time visit (such as for an eva
