Blog

In March 2020 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency.  Some requirements have been TEMPORARILY waived.  Licensed mental health professionals who are enrolled in Medicare can be reimbursed for telehealth services provided: To new or established Medicare beneficiary clients To clients whether the […]

In 2019, Florida Statute 456 allowed the use of telehealth for the provision of mental health services  that included assessments, individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and patient education.  Technology had to include visual – the client and the clinician had to be able to see each other.  HIPAA regulations dictated the type of platform […]

Telehealth uses technology and special equipment to provide mental health services to a client who is in a location other than our office.  Telehealth and our national COVID-19 health emergency may forever change the provision of mental health services as we knew it. Florida law allows mental health practitioners who are licensed in another state […]

CORONAVIRUS: Know the facts.  There’s so much misinformation out there – get correct facts online only from CDC.gov and WHO.int – please heed warnings and practice prevention.  Younger people and children may be infected and not show any symptoms at all – but are still contagious.  Most people who become infected will get better without […]

As a registered intern, are you aware that you cannot abbreviate your intern status following your signature?  You MAY NOT use the following: RCSWI; RCMTI; or RMHCI.  We can either use our educational credentials, such as MSW or MA or our intern status.  Florida Statute 491 tells us that when using intern status we MUST […]

On February 3, 2020 HIV trial vaccinations being conducted in South Africa were stopped because they were deemed to be ineffective.  Following is a a synopsis of the report: The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has stopped administration of vaccinations in its HVTN 702 (also […]

Now that the holidays are over and we are returning to our ‘normal’ schedules, we must remember GRATITUDE.  Many studies have researched the effects of gratitude on our emotional well being.  One definition I like is, “Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”.  Research confirms that […]

Supervision requirements for initial licensure in Florida for Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists, and Mental Health Counselors can be confusing.  Florida law addresses supervision requirements and says a registered intern shall: (a) Receive at least 100 hours of supervision in no less than 100 weeks; and, (b) Provide at least 1500 hours […]