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Michael Chavers has worked as CEO of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, which provides mental healthcare to children, for four years. When schools closed this fall, and children lost the familiar structures and support so many rely on, Chavers and his team began reaching out in unprecedented ways. It really has been through texting and the ability to reach out. Previously that was, well, kind of frowned upon prior to the pandemic because of the lack of security in the communication, Chavers said.
Chavers says relaxation of Medicaid requirements allowed therapists to work with kids by text when they didn’t feel safe or mentally well. And Chavers saw higher enrollment numbers than ever at YBGR this September.
Psychotherapist D Gregory Smith says telehealth has given him an opportunity to meet his patients âwhere they are ââ both literally and metaphorically â and if heâs able to, he plans to continue offering telehealth services in some capacity even after COVID-19âs infection risk has receded.
Like many health care providers in Montana, Smith has been tracking developments in the telehealth landscape. If, and how much, heâll be able to continue using telehealth with clients who are scattered across the state is largely in the hands of policymakers who govern health care programs and the private and public insurance companies that pay for it.
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