13:34C-7.1 Purpose and scope

(a) The purpose of this subchapter is to implement the provisions of P.L. 2017, c. 117 (N.J.S.A. 45:1-61 et seq.), which authorizes healthcare providers to engage in telemedicine and telehealth.

(b) This subchapter shall apply to all persons who are licensed or certified by the Committee.

(c) Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 45:1-62, an alcohol and drug counselor must hold a license or certification, as applicable, issued by the Committee, if he or she:

1. Is located in New Jersey and provides alcohol and drug counseling to any client located in or out of New Jersey by means of telemedicine or telehealth; or

2. Is located outside of New Jersey and provides alcohol and drug counseling to any client located in New Jersey by means of telemedicine or telehealth.

(d) Notwithstanding N.J.S.A. 45:1-62 and (c) above, a healthcare provider located in another state who consults with a licensee in New Jersey through the use of information and communications technologies, but does not direct a client's care, will not be considered as providing health care services to a client in New Jersey consistent with N.J.S.A. 45:2D-1 et seq., and will not be required to obtain licensure in New Jersey in order to provide such consultation.

(e) Credentialed interns, as defined at N.J.A.C. 13:34C-6.1, who engage in telemedicine or telehealth shall do so consistent with P.L. 2017, c. 117 (N.J.S.A. 45:1-61 et seq.) and the rules of their respective licensing board.

13:34C-7.2 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

"Asynchronous store-and-forward" means the acquisition and transmission of images, diagnostics, data, and medical information either to or from an originating site, or to or from the licensee at a distant site, which allows for the client to be evaluated without being physically present.

"Committee" means the Alcohol and Drug Counselor Committee.

"Cross-coverage" means a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who engages in a remote evaluation of a client, without in-person contact, at the request of another licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor who has established a proper licensee-client relationship with the client.

"Distant site" means a site at which a licensee is located while providing alcohol and drug counseling by means of telemedicine or telehealth.

"Licensee" means an individual licensed or certified by the Committee.

"On-call" means a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor is available, where necessary, to physically attend to the urgent and follow-up needs of a client for whom the licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor has temporarily assumed responsibility, as designated by the client's primary care licensed alcohol and drug counselor or other licensed healthcare provider of record.

"Originating site" means a site at which a client is located at the time that alcohol and drug counseling is provided to the client by means of telemedicine or telehealth.

"Proper licensee-client relationship" means an association between a licensee and client, wherein the alcohol and drug counselor owes a duty to the client to be available to render professional services consistent with his or her training and experience which is established pursuant to the requirements at N.J.A.C. 13:34C-7.4.

"Telehealth" means the use of information and communications technologies, including telephones, remote client monitoring devices, or other electronic means, to support clinical health care, provider consultation, client and professional health-related education, public health, health administration, and other services in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 2017, c. 117 (N.J.S.A. 45:1-61 et seq.).

"Telemedicine" means the delivery of a health care service, including mental health services, using electronic communications, information technology, or other electronic or technological means to bridge the gap between a health care licensee who is located at a distant site and a client who is located at an originating site, either with or without the assistance of an intervening licensee, and in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 2017, c. 117 (N.J.S.A. 45:1-61 et seq.). "Telemedicine" does not include the use, in isolation, of audio-only telephone conversation, electronic mail, instant messaging, phone text, or facsimile transmission.

13:34C-7.3 Standard of care

(a) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall determine whether providing those services through telemedicine or telehealth would be consistent with the standard of care applicable for those services when provided in-person.

(b) If a licensee determines, either before or during the provision of alcohol and drug counseling that services cannot be provided through telemedicine or telehealth in a manner that is consistent with in-person standards of care, the licensee shall not provide or supervise services through telemedicine or telehealth.

1. A certified alcohol and drug counselor or any licensee working under supervision shall be responsible for determining whether alcohol and drug counseling can be provided through telemedicine or telehealth in a manner that is consistent with in-person standards of care.

(c) A licensee who determines that services cannot be provided through telemedicine or telehealth pursuant to (b) above shall advise the client to obtain services in-person.

(d) A licensee who provides a treatment, or consultation recommendation, including discussions regarding the risk and benefits of a client's treatment options, through telemedicine or telehealth, shall be held to the same standard of care or practice standards as are applicable to in-person settings.

13:34C-7.4 Licensee-client relationship

(a) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall establish a licensee-client relationship by:

1. Identifying the client with, at a minimum, the client's name, date of birth, phone number, and address. A licensee may also use a client's assigned identification number, Social Security number, photo, health insurance policy number, or other identifier associated directly with the client; and

2. Disclosing and validating the licensee's identity, license, title, and, if applicable, specialty and Committee certifications.

(b) Prior to initiating contact with a client for the purpose of providing services to the client using telemedicine or telehealth, a licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1. Review the client's medical history and any available medical records that are relevant to substance use and addictive disorders and mental health history;

2. Determine, as to each unique client encounter, whether he or she will be able to provide the same standard of care using telemedicine or telehealth as would be provided if the services were provided in-person; and

3. Provide the client the opportunity to sign a consent form that authorizes the licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor or the agency employing the licensee to release client records of the encounter to the client's primary care licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor or other healthcare provider identified by the client.

(c) Prior to initiating contact with a client for the purpose of providing services to the client using telemedicine or telehealth, a certified alcohol and drug counselor shall:

1. Have his or her supervising licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor comply with (b)1, 2, and 3 above; and

2. After the supervising licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor conducts the review and makes the determination required at (b) above, satisfy the requirements of (b)1 and 2.

(d) Notwithstanding (a), (b), and (c) above, alcohol and drug counseling may be provided through telemedicine or telehealth without a proper licensee-client relationship if the provision of alcohol and drug counseling is:

1. For informal consultations with another healthcare provider performed by a licensee outside the context of a contractual relationship, or on an irregular or infrequent basis, without the expectation or exchange of direct or indirect compensation;

2. During episodic consultations by a healthcare specialist located in another jurisdiction who provides consultation services, upon request, to a licensee in this State;

3. Related to health care assistance provided in response to an emergency or disaster, provided that there is no charge for the mental health assistance; or

4. Provided by a substitute licensee acting on behalf, and at the designation, of an absent licensee in the same specialty on an on-call or cross-coverage basis.

13:34C-7.5 Provision of alcohol and drug counseling through telemedicine or telehealth

(a) As long as a licensee has satisfied the requirements at N.J.A.C. 13:34C-7.4, a licensee may provide alcohol and drug counseling to a client through the use of telemedicine and may engage in telehealth to support and facilitate the provision of alcohol and drug counseling to clients.

(b) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall determine the client's originating site and a contact phone number that is valid for the duration of the session, and record this information in the client's record. If, during the session, contact with the client is interrupted, once contact is re-established the licensee shall re-verify the client's location.

(c) A licensee providing health care services through telemedicine shall use interactive, real-time, two-way communication technologies, which shall include, except as provided at (e) below, a video component that allows a licensee to see a client and the client to see the licensee during the provision of alcohol and drug counseling services.

(d) A licensee providing services through telemedicine or telehealth may use asynchronous store-and-forward technology to allow for the electronic transmission of:

1. Images;

2. Diagnostics;

3. Data; and

4. Medical information.

(e) If, after accessing and reviewing the client's records, a licensee determines that he or she is able to meet the standard of care for such services if they were being provided in-person, without using the video component described at (c) above, the licensee may use interactive, real-time, two-way audio in combination with asynchronous store-and-forward technology, without a video component.

(f) Prior to providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall review any medical history or medical records that are relevant to substance use and addictive disorders, and mental health history provided by a client as follows:

1. For an initial encounter with a client, medical and mental health history and medical records shall be reviewed prior to the provision of alcohol and drug counseling through telemedicine or telehealth; and

2. For any subsequent interactions with a client, medical and mental health history and medical records shall be reviewed either prior to the provision of alcohol and drug counseling through telemedicine or telehealth or contemporaneously with the encounter with the client.

(g) During and after the provision of alcohol and drug counseling through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall provide his or her name, professional credentials, and contact information to the client. Such contact information shall enable the client to contact the licensee for at least 72 hours following the provision of services, or for a longer period if warranted by the client's circumstances and accepted standards of care.

(h) After the provision of alcohol and drug counseling through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee shall provide the client, upon request, with his or her records reflecting the services provided.

(i) A licensee shall provide, upon a client's written request, the client's information to the client's primary care provider or to other healthcare providers.

(j) A licensee engaging in telemedicine or telehealth shall refer a client for follow-up care when necessary.

13:34C-7.6 Records

A licensee who provides services through telemedicine or telehealth shall maintain a record of the care provided to a client. Such records shall comply with the requirements at N.J.A.C. 13:34C-4.1 and all other applicable State and Federal statutes, rules, and regulations for recordkeeping, confidentiality, and disclosure of a client's records.

13:34C-7.7 Prevention of fraud and abuse

(a) In order to establish that a licensee has made a good faith effort to prevent fraud and abuse when providing services through telemedicine or telehealth, a licensee must establish written protocols that address:

1. Authentication and authorization of users;

2. Authentication of the client during the initial intake pursuant to N.J.A.C. 13:34C-7.4(a)1;

3. Authentication of the origin of information;

4. The prevention of unauthorized access to the system or information;

5. System security, including the integrity of information that is collected, program integrity, and system integrity;

6. Maintenance of documentation about system and information usage;

7. Information storage, maintenance, and transmission; and

8. Synchronization and verification of client profile data.

13:34C-7.8 Privacy and notice to clients

(a) Licensees who communicate with clients by electronic communications other than telephone or facsimile shall establish written privacy practices that are consistent with Federal standards pursuant to 45 CFR 160 and 164, which are incorporated herein by reference, relating to privacy of individually identifiable health information.

(b) Written privacy practices pursuant to (a) above shall include privacy and security measures that assure confidentiality and integrity of client-identifiable information. Transmissions, including client email, prescriptions, and laboratory results must be password protected, encrypted, or protected through substantially equivalent authentication techniques.

(c) A licensee who becomes aware of a breach in confidentiality of client information, as defined at 45 CFR 164.402, shall comply with the reporting requirements of 45 CFR 164.

(d) Licensees, or their authorized representatives, shall provide a client, prior to evaluation or treatment, with copies of written privacy practices and shall obtain the client's written acknowledgement of receipt of the notice.

(e) Licensees who provide services through telemedicine or telehealth, or their authorized representatives, shall, prior to providing services, give clients notice regarding telemedicine and telehealth, including the risks and benefits of being treated through telemedicine or telehealth and how to receive follow-up care or assistance in the event of an adverse reaction to the counseling or treatment recommendations, or in the event of an inability to communicate as a result of a technological or equipment failure. A licensee shall obtain a signed and dated statement indicating that the client received this notice.

(f) When telemedicine or telehealth is unable to provide all pertinent clinical information that a licensee exercising ordinary skill and care would deem reasonably necessary to provide care to a client, the licensee shall inform the client of this prior to the conclusion of the provision of care through telemedicine or telehealth and shall advise the client regarding the need for the client to obtain an additional in-person mental health or medical evaluation reasonably able to meet the client's needs.