Online Psychiatrist California

California is one of the most diverse states in the country, which is one aspect that drew me into telepsychiatry in the first place. People don’t typically think of California as rural, but there are many healthcare shortage areas. About 11 million Californians are in them. That’s more people than all of Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, Montana, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, and West Virginia all combined. You might be surprised but many people who call us actually are desperate for an appointment and they live in the Bay Area. That’s because many doctors in the Bay Area actually decide to take cash only, so actually some of the data is misleading, because even though those populated areas have more doctors many of them are not in network. We do take Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Humana, Cigna, United and Optum. Please give us a call if you’d like to be seen thanks a lot

Schedule Online Appointments

It is important that you get the mental health care that you need. Our team specializes in online psychiatry and mental health to bring you the very best online psychiatry services. We’re able to efficiently help you get seen and obtain the help you need with customized treatment plans. We will walk you through the setup so you can focus on what you’ll say to the psychiatrist and not how to set up your computer.

Schedule an appointment with a licensed therapist today for personalized, supportive psychiatric care.

What areas do we serve? Our network of psychiatrists specialize in a variety of areas and are ready to help you with any mental health conditions.

As long as you are located somewhere in the state of California during the visit, you can be seen. This includes Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno, Long Beach, among others. We also excel at underserved and rural mental health treatment. Our network of psychiatrists specialize in a variety of areas and are ready to help you with any mental health conditions.

Telepsychiatry is the application of telemedicine to the specialty field of psychiatry. The term describes the delivery of psychiatric assessment and care through videoconferencing. Online psychiatry and online therapy services can be provided in California with the same diagnostic accuracy as in person visits.

According to data collected by SacBee, California has a shortage of 336 psychiatrists, and is expected to grow to between 729 and 1848 by 2025. California is expected to have a severe shortage of psychiatrists by 2028.

TelepsychHealth is a telepsychiatry practice made up of the highest quality psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and therapists. We recognize the unmet need of patients trying to see psychiatrists. We are owned and operated by a doctor with the willingness to spend time educating patient & family about diagnosis and recommended treatments. Your success is our success!

Are online psychiatry services or online mental health services covered by insurance?

Yes! We accept health insurance plans from the following insurance companies. Get the protection and peace of mind you need.

• Aetna
• Anthem Blue Cross
• Blue Shield of California
• Cigna
• Humana
• UnitedHealthcare/Optum Behavioral Health
• Medi-Cal – Specialty Mental Health Services (DHCS)

How do I find a psychiatrist who takes Medi-Cal – Specialty Mental Health Services (DHCS)?

Effective May 14, 2024, we now accept Medi-Cal (Specialty Mental Health Services) through DHCS. More mental health plan information can be found here: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MH_plan_information.aspx 

California Telepsychiatry

If you live in California, you are eligible to see a telepsychiatrist via teleconference for psychiatry and therapy. It’s easy, affordable, and can even be covered by your insurance. Telepsychiatry offers treatment to suburban, urban, rural, and underserved areas of California. Telepsychiatry is widely accepted and used in hospitals, health clinics, and other sites throughout California.

Rules and Regulations

Just like every US state, any clinician providing psychiatric services to a patient located in California must be licensed by the California Medical Board. This includes online mental health services and behavioral health services.
Telehealth services [according to the Telehealth Advancement Act of 2011] “is the mode of delivering health care services and public health utilizing information and communication technologies to facilitate the diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management and self-management of a patient’s health care while the patient is at the originating site and the health care provider is at the distant site.”

“Telemedicine [according to CMS] is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another using interactive telecommunications equipment that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real time, interactive communication between the patient and physician or practitioner at the distant site to improve a patient’s health. Medi-Cal uses the term telemedicine when it makes a distinction from telehealth.”

Telepsychiatry Implementation

California rules require that a patient-physician relationship is established for telemedicine to be practiced. California does not require an in person initial examination. Patient-physician relationships can be established through telemedicine which includes real time video conferencing.

Health plans cannot limit the settings where services can be provided.

Since the coronavirus pandemic appeared in the United States, California was one of the first states to be severely affected. This could be attributed to the state’s large population, crowded cities, and status as a travel hub between the United States, Asia, and Europe. The rise of new cases in California was slow, however, and seemed to be relatively well-controlled thanks to strong leadership and early stay-at-home orders.

On May 8th, 2020, these restrictions in California began to be lifted, allowing businesses to begin reopening. Since then, California has begun to see a large uptick in the number of new COVID-19 cases, especially since the beginning of July. Currently, the biggest hotspot of coronavirus cases is in Los Angeles County and surrounding areas. As of July 11th, 2020, the 7-day average of new cases per day is 7,836.

This surge in new cases reflects a similar pattern in the United States, especially in populous states such as Texas and Florida. After months of social distancing, Californians, like many Americans, have grown exhausted of restrictions on their day-to-day behaviors. Many, especially young people, have begun to resume their normal activities such as going to restaurants, gyms, and bars. Additionally, vigilance around mask wearing and social distancing has slipped over time, leading to this new wave of cases we are seeing in California.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect California, many people are feeling stressed and mentally exhausted. It is not unusual to experience heightened anxiety in a time of uncertainty like this. Patients have frequently reported a worsening of their mental health during this time. As we begin to feel the effects of quarantining long-term, it is more important now than ever to practice pandemic-friendly self-care to maintain good mental hygiene.

Going for a walk outside, calling a family member or friend, or reading a book are all examples of activities that are safe and greatly beneficial for your mental wellbeing. Some may wish to seek additional support from a mental health professional at this time. While the COVID-19 crisis continues and unfolds, it is important to remain attentive to your mental health needs.