24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (410) 685-2830, Press Option 5
24-Hour Compliance Hotline: (410) 685-2830, Press Option 6

Telemedicine

Beacon of Hope offers telemedicine for our outpatient counseling and psychiatric services. Telemedicine is the use of video conferencing to deliver remote behavioral health and psychiatric care services. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) approves telemedicine as it has been scientifically proven to be an effective psychiatric treatment as compared to traditional, face-to-face outpatient services. Beacon of Hope adheres to the practice guidelines of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR), Administrative Services Organization (ASO)–Optum, and each of the Maryland licensure boards of our licensed professionals. The video conferencing equipment we use is in compliance and accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH).

Telemedicine is convenient, effective, and private. Instead of having onsite/offsite appointments, the licensed/certified provider is alone in a private office while the client chooses his/her own private space. Both parties use an Internet connection to access the video conferencing system for a virtual counseling or medication management appointment. The client can use a computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet for this type of service. Telemedicine includes, but is not limited to, initial assessments, diagnostic evaluations, counseling and medication management sessions, and electronic prescribing. Please note, mental/behavioral health services is different for each individual; therefore, a consultation with the client and one of our licensed/certified providers will determine if a client is clinically appropriate for telemedicine services.

Please call (410) 685-2830, if you are interested in telemedicine services, in which you have an online, virtual counseling/medication management appointment with our mental health therapist, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner from the comfort of your home, office, or anywhere you have Wifi access.

Telemedicine

  • Children, adolescents, and adults
  • Medication Management
  • Individual, Couple, Family, and Group Therapy
  • Eligibility: Medicare, Maryland Medicaid, Self-Pay

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is telemedicine?

Telemedicine uses a live, secure, HIPAA and HITECH compliant web-based software to video conference psychiatric and counseling services. The real-time video conference system uses cameras and microphones to provide picture and audio, so clients feel like they are in the same room with the licensed/certified provider while being in the comfort of their own setting like home and office. Clients must have an Internet connection to utilize this type of service.

Is the quality of care the same as an in-person appointment?

Yes. The quality of telemedicine as a method of healthcare delivery is approved by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and confirmed by decades of research and demonstrations. Telemedicine has been found to be a safe, cost-effective, and convenient way to provide healthcare services.

What device can I use during the video conferencing?

Clients can use a computer, laptop, smartphone, or tablet with WiFi access to connect to the video conferencing platform.

Is telemedicine private and secure?

Yes. We use a video conferencing software that is HIPPA and HITECH compliant, and meets the practice guidelines of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA). We do not use Facetime, Skype, or Google Duo.

What are the benefits of telemedicine?

Some of the benefits of telemedicine include convenience, flexibility, reduced travel time, real-time virtual sessions, and the use of a secure, private, and HIPPA and HITECH compliant web-based software.

Are telemedicine and telehealth the same thing?

No. Telemedicine is a subset of telehealth. Telehealth is a broader scope of remote healthcare services including non-clinical uses of telecommunications technology like provider and client education, record management, and medical records management. Telemedicine is the remote healthcare technology to deliver clinical services.

Does a client have to meet with a provider in-person before a visit can be conducted virtually online?

It depends. A consultation with the client and one of our licensed/certified providers will determine if a client is clinically appropriate for telemedicine services.

Will my insurance pay for telemedicine?

Yes. Medicare, Optum, Maryland Medicaid, and the following managed care organizations:

  • Aetna Better Health of Maryland
  • Amerigroup
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Jai Medical Systems
  • Maryland Physicians Care
  • MedStar Family Choice
  • Priority Partners
  • United Healthcare
  • University of Maryland Health Partners

We also accept self-pay, which payment is due at the time of service.

Do you offer a sliding fee?

We offer sliding scale fee discounts for individuals who have financial obstacles and cannot afford the full fees for our treatment services. We offer sliding scale fee discounts to individuals with all incomes at/or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Beacon of Hope sliding fee scale discounts are based on household size and income. To qualify, a potential client has to complete a sliding fee scale application and bring proof of income to his/her first appointment. Documentation of income include federal and state tax return; two recent paycheck stubs; current bank statement; unemployment benefit award letter; benefit award letter, etc.). Please note, we require tax documents for individuals who are self-employed. The potential client will receive the sliding fee discount, if s/he qualifies based on the income guidelines.

How do I pay for services?

Payment is expected at the time of each appointment including insurance co-payment. Please use our online client portal to make an online payment. Our client portal is safe and secure as it uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), an encryption protocol, to protect your payment information. You can make an online payment by check, credit card, or debit card. Payments are processed in real time or on the same day as you make the payment. If you make an online payment on Saturday or Sunday, your transaction is processed the following Monday.

We also accept office payments in the form of a certified check or money order. The certified bank check or money order should be made payable to Beacon of Hope; certified bank check or money order should state Beacon of Hope Wellness Center for alcohol and drug treatment services. No personal checks or cash are accepted.

Welcome To Beacon Of Hope

An outpatient behavioral health, psychiatric, substance use disorder, and psychiatric rehabilitation provider, which is licensed through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Since 2018, Beacon of Hope has been awarded the national, gold seal accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CAFR ®).

About Us

Facility

Office Hours

Monday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Early morning, evening, and week-end appointments may be available by request.

Call us

(410) 685-2830

Located at

1721 Pennsylvania Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21217

Request Services

Call us

(410) 685-2830
Monday - Friday
9:30am - 4:30pm

Make a refferral

Appointment Request

(for current clients)

24-Hour Crisis Hotline

If you are experiencing a crisis or an emergency, please call our 24-Hour Hotline, day or night, 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Call us

(410) 685-2830 press 5

24-Hour Compliance Hotline

You may anonymously and confidentiality voice your concern by calling our 24-Hour Compliance Hotline.

Call us

(410) 685-2830 press 6