MPN Telehealth – Getting Started

To help improve access to medical services, medical provider network (MPN) telehealth services are available to injured workers for the entire State of California who desire to obtain clinical health care via a device that has audio-video capability. Telehealth services are available through technology to connect with a physician or medical provider. The employer may provide these devices when the employee does not have the required technology to receive the medical treatment through telehealth.

Telehealth options may not be appropriate for all conditions. In general, the following rules are applied to telehealth options:

• The Physician will provide medical services for only those conditions appropriate to be treated by telehealth.

• The telehealth evaluation/examination will be done by a California licensed physician within his or her scope of practice and meets the same standard of care as a face-to-face medical evaluation/examination including all necessary medical record documentation requirements and privacy standards.

• If you choose to consent to telehealth services, the physician who provides services via only telehealth, will be counted when determining if the MPN has met standards. If you do not consent or retract your consent to telehealth services prior to telehealth treatment, the telehealth physician will not be counted when determining if an MPN has met standards. Your consent is required prior to delivery of the telehealth treatment and must be documented in your medical record, pursuant to Business and Professions Code section2290.5(b). Physicians who provides services at both a physical location and also via telehealth, will be counted in determining MPN's compliance with access standards if the physician's physical location is within 30 min or 15 miles (if Primary Treating Physician), or within 60 minutes or 30 miles (if specialist), of injured covered employee's residence or workplace.

• The Physician will provide referral to a "brick and mortar" provider listing or emergency department within the MPN if the employee is presenting symptoms that are not appropriate for a telehealth visit.

• Telehealth provider will not perform the duties of a "Primary Treating Physician" (PTP) unless mutually agreed upon by patient and provider.

• Whenever physical manipulation is needed or procedures are needed to appropriately address patient needs, the PTP must have access to a physical location with providers able to assist the physician or perform specific functions as a secondary treater.

• The Primary Treating Physician" (PTP) must be responsible for managing patient records including those from any secondary treater used at physical treatment facilities to appropriately guide the patient treatment plan.

Your Visit

After you've signed up:

• Select the option to start a visit with an available care coordinator. Depending on their availability, you may be added to a virtual "waiting room" while you wait for them to connect.
• The care coordinator will ask you some questions about your medical history and why you're visiting.
• You'll be queued in a virtual waiting room to see a doctor of your choice. If you need to step away, remember to click the box that says TEXT ME so that you'll be reminded when the doctor is ready.
• The doctor determines that your condition is appropriate to be treated by telehealth. Time for your appointment! IMPORTANT NOTE: you must provide authorization to your doctor that you consent to utilize Telehealth service and must be documented in your medical record. Talk to the doctor as much as you need to. When you're done, your visit will end unless you need a referral or to schedule a follow-up appointment.
• If you need a referral or follow-up appointment, you'll check out with your care coordinator. They'll help you get scheduled.