TELEPSYCHIATRY IN CALIFORNIA
GENOA HEALTHCARE AND TELEPSYCHIATRY IN CALIFORNIA
- Alignment Healthcare (Orange)
- Imperial County Behavioral Health Systems (El Centro)
- Turning Point Community Programs (Sacramento)
GETTING STARTED
Who can be a telepsychiatrist for my clinic?
Psychiatrists & APRNs: Any psychiatrist (MD/DO) or advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with a state license in California can provide care via telepsychiatry.
How does reimbursement work for telepsychiatry in California?
Each telepsychiatry session generates two billable codes:
- The standard CPT codes for outpatient, psychiatric services.
- An originating site facility fee (Q3014) that allows clinics to receive reimbursement for the use of the facility where telehealth services are rendered.
Medicaid
During the COVID public emergency, there is no restriction on the location of the client receiving service whether in the clinic, at their residence, or out in the community.

Medicare
During the COVID public emergency, there is no restriction on the location of the client receiving service whether in the clinic, at their residence, or out in the community.
FQHCs
There are two billing options for FQHCs considering telepsychiatry
- FQHCs can bill $92 per session as an encounter fee when the client is remote.
- FQHCs can bill $65 per session as a facility fee (4012) to cover onsite administrative costs when the client is on site.
What tech does my clinic need?

Setting up telepsychiatry at your clinic is simple. The set up will require:
- A two-way video telecommunication system that allows for real-time communication between the provider and patient
- HIPAA-compliant video conferencing technology
UTILIZATION & PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY
Utilization is the percentage of a telepsychiatrist’s time that is spent on reimbursable patient care. Tracking this number helps clinics understand the financial sustainability of telepsychiatry for their organization.
Download our Utilization Best Practices to learn more about how to ensure telepsychiatry is financially sustainable for your clinic.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Get in touch with David Theobald on our Clinic Partnerships team to learn more about telepsychiatry in California.
DAVID THEOBALD, MBA
25+ years as national mental health advocate, board member, and digital mental health consultant with 4 years of experience leading Genoa Telepsychiatry’s expansion in California.
Contact David Theobald to learn more about starting a telepsychiatry program at your clinic.