The future of virtual behavioral health 2024 is hanging in the balance as federal and state governments decide whether to make pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent. These policies, originally introduced to expand access during COVID-19, revolutionized behavioral health care and offered a lifeline to patients across the country. Now, behavioral health providers and their patients are anxiously awaiting clarity on whether those policies will continue.
During a recent session with the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the importance of preserving these telehealth options. “We can’t allow those flexibilities to expire,” he said. “When the pandemic hit, a lot of folks thought it wouldn’t work on the mental health side, but it’s actually one of the areas where we had the greatest success.” Becerra’s remarks reinforce growing support among policymakers who recognize the vital role virtual behavioral health 2024 will play in addressing America’s growing mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) crisis.
The Impact of Telehealth on Behavioral Health
Telehealth provides many benefits, including improved treatment retention for pregnant individuals with opioid use disorder, expanded access to specialists, and reduced barriers for patients living in rural or underserved areas. Even as in-person appointments resumed, many patients continued choosing virtual care for its convenience and accessibility—a clear sign that virtual behavioral health 2024 isn’t just a passing trend, but a permanent shift in how care is delivered.
Still, many of the rules allowing these virtual visits are set to expire or change in 2024. Federal regulations set the groundwork for what’s permissible via telehealth, particularly for Medicaid and Medicare providers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, TRICARE, and the Indian Health Service. However, one key area remains in flux: the remote prescribing of controlled substances. For the past four years, the DEA has waived the requirement for in-person visits before prescribing medications for mental health or SUD treatment. Now, pressure is building for a permanent solution.
Federal Oversight and Policy Uncertainty
Kyle Zebley of the American Telemedicine Association noted, “This is not something that you can interrupt and expect it to move forward seamlessly. We’re talking about people’s lives.” With so much at stake, a clear, permanent framework is essential for virtual behavioral health 2024 to succeed.
Federal telehealth policy impacts providers working within TRICARE, the VA, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Indian Health Service. However, the lack of a consistent national policy on controlled substance prescribing adds a layer of uncertainty for clinicians, particularly those treating SUDs. For virtual behavioral health 2024 to grow, this regulatory gap must be addressed quickly and thoughtfully.
The Role of State Regulations
State regulations are equally important and often more complex. States determine clinician licensure requirements, what platforms are approved for telehealth, what Medicaid will cover, and how standards of care are defined. For digital health providers operating across state lines, like Affect Therapeutics, compliance with state-by-state rules is crucial. Affect offers treatment for substances such as alcohol, methamphetamines, marijuana, and prescription stimulants in 20 states. Because most of their patients are Medicaid beneficiaries, their team works closely with state licensing boards to ensure every element of their telehealth care meets strict requirements.
According to Dr. Jon Peeples, Affect’s Chief Medical Officer, the company takes a layered approach to compliance—evaluating state facility licenses, individual provider licenses, and Medicaid-specific telehealth rules. This meticulous approach ensures their virtual programs can continue operating effectively. It also highlights how critical regulatory clarity is for expanding access to virtual behavioral health 2024 services.
Preparing for a New Era in Behavioral Health
The stakes are high. Without lasting policies, providers may be forced to reduce services, and patients who rely on digital care may be left behind. On the other hand, if federal and state leaders solidify telehealth’s role in the healthcare system, virtual behavioral health 2024 could mark a permanent turning point in how Americans receive mental health and addiction support.
Telehealth has proven its value. Now it’s up to policymakers to ensure that the progress made over the past four years isn’t undone. For providers, patients, and the broader healthcare community, virtual behavioral health 2024 represents more than policy—it represents access, equity, and a smarter way to deliver care.
