Telehealth Settings: School Based Telehealth

Telehealth Settings: School Based Telehealth

School-Based Telehealth

School-based telehealth programs can expand access to health care for children and adolescents by bringing services directly into schools or connecting students to care virtually. These programs are often used to support primary care, behavioral health, chronic condition management, and care coordination, particularly for students who face barriers to accessing care outside of school.

School telehealth programs operate at the intersection of health care, education, and public policy, and are shaped by federal and state regulations, payer requirements, and privacy laws. Careful planning is essential to ensure programs are compliant, sustainable, and responsive to student and family needs.

I am interested in developing a school telehealth program. How do I get started?

Getting started with school-based telehealth typically involves the following key steps:

• Define the program model and goals
  Identify which services will be offered (e.g., primary care, behavioral health, specialty consults), which students will be served, and how telehealth will complement existing school and community health resources.
• Understand policy, privacy, and consent requirements
  School telehealth programs must comply with healthcare and education privacy laws, including HIPAA and FERPA, as well as state-specific consent and documentation requirements.
• Assess reimbursement and funding options
  Review Medicaid and commercial payer policies for school-based telehealth, including eligible services, billing requirements, and payment models. Some programs rely on grants or partnerships to support sustainability.
• Establish partnerships and roles
  Successful programs often involve partnerships between schools, healthcare providers, school nurses, and community organizations. Clear roles, workflows, and communication pathways are critical.
• Plan technology and workflows
  Select secure telehealth technology, define clinical workflows, and ensure staff and students have appropriate support for using telehealth tools.
• Center equity and student access
  Consider language access, accessibility, parental engagement, and digital access to ensure the program meets the needs of all students.

Below, we've listed trusted resources, toolkits, and guidance to support organizations interested in planning and implementing school-based telehealth programs.

TelehealthClassroom.org - Developing a School-Based Telebehavioral Health Program: Toolkit
Create a free account on TelehealthClassroom.org to access this toolkit, along with other resources covering a range of telehealth topics and care settings.

School-Based Telehealth Playbook - School-Based Health Alliance

Medicaid & State Telehealth Policy: School-Based Telehealth
This webinar is part of CCHP's Medicaid and State Telehealth Policy webinar series and focuses on the use of telehealth in school-based programs. It highlights how Medicaid and education agencies collaborate to support access to services for children.

Introduction to school-based telehealth - hhs.gov

HIPAA and FERPA: Key Considerations for School-Based Health Centers - School Based Health Alliance

Regional Examples and Success Stories:

Heywood Health (MA) School-based telepsych program pivots to home-based counseling under covid-19

Eastern Maine Medical Center TeleWOW! (ME) Adaptation of a pediatric weight management clinic via telehealth: pre-to-post covid-19; WEBINAR (07/25): Leveraging Telehealth in Pediatric Obesity Care: A Multidisciplinary Model with Big Impact- Recording; Slides