Navigating New Risks: Adapting Mental Health Care in the Post-Pandemic Era

The pandemic has left a lasting impact on mental and behavioral health care, elevating liability exposures for practitioners. Valerie Beatrice, a product specialist at Philadelphia Insurance, highlights the increased demand for mental health services and the subsequent stress on healthcare providers. This stress, coupled with challenges in hiring and retention, has heightened the risk of errors in treatment, potentially leading to liability claims.

A significant shift has been the adoption of telemedicine. While beneficial for maintaining social distancing and offering convenience, telemedicine poses unique challenges. The lack of physical presence may hinder the establishment of rapport and privacy, crucial for effective treatment. This shift has particularly intensified the risk around suicide prevention, raising concerns about the adequacy of virtual treatment.

Emerging risks also include new therapies like ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), requiring careful consideration from practitioners and insurers. Beatrice stresses the importance of understanding these new treatments and managing their side effects.

To mitigate these risks, mental health care providers must focus on strong leadership, robust incident response policies, and comprehensive training. Partnerships with organizations like Abuse Prevention Systems and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) offer valuable resources. Beatrice also underscores the irreplaceable value of in-person evaluations, especially for initial visits, and suggests utilizing CMS’s telehealth toolkit to adapt virtual health services effectively.