Bereavement Professional

  • 1.  Public Health Emergency Ending- Virtual Bereavement Visits

    Posted 04-28-2023 09:57 AM

    With the Public Health Emergency (PHE), enacted due to Covid, ending on 5/12, virtual visits for hospice staff seeing patients and their families will no longer be supported. There is little guidance as to how this pertains to bereavement. Can we still do virtual and telephonic visits? For us, we went completely virtual during Covid and even though we are back in the office seeing clients in-person now, we still offer visits via Zoom or phone. Does anyone have insights to share on how their organization is interpreting the PHE ending as it pertains to bereavement services? And how might this apply differently if bereavement is involved prior to the patient's death versus after they have passed? I appreciate your thoughts!

    Ryan Mahler, NCC, LCMHC
    Director of Adult Grief Support & Counseling
    336-375-2347




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  • 2.  RE: Public Health Emergency Ending- Virtual Bereavement Visits

    Posted 05-01-2023 09:45 AM
    Telehealth is extended for medical physician use to 12/2024.  General use wise we have 90 days after mid May to comply. Not much is itemized to amswer this. However note once a Pt expires we no longer bill for Pt care so bereavement so there is no rule at this time that addresses this as I'm aware of.  I will ask this to our Nhpco regulatory board.  What I have done is create doxy.me free subscriptions for my team to use for telehealth video meetings to become hipaa compliant as we can no longer use FaceTime or Whats App which have no hipaa compliance after mid May.  



    Regards, 
    Van Castaneda 
    VP/Administrator 
    (562) 317-1154 (direct)
    (866) 855-8387 (main)
    (951) 472-2630 (fax)


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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Public Health Emergency Ending- Virtual Bereavement Visits

    Posted 05-02-2023 08:27 AM

    Good morning Ryan,

    This may depend on how your state defines telehealth.  Here in Florida, telehealth is specifically defined and virtual services provided to patients.  So my organization will continue to allow virtual visits for bereaved family members post-death because they are not the patient.  However, if a patient is in need of bereavement services due to either their own loss or their anticipatory bereavement needs or if their loved ones are in need of pre-death bereavement support these will be required to take place in-person unless there are extenuating circumstances such as an out-of-state caregiver. Hope this helps.



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    Jennifer Simmons, LCSW
    Bereavement Coordinator
    St Francis Reflections Life Stage Care
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Public Health Emergency Ending- Virtual Bereavement Visits

    Posted 05-03-2023 04:51 PM

    I agree with Van, for bereavement care there is no rule against virtual visits since their is no billing. Prior to pandemic and PHE we provided virtual and telephonic visits with no concern.  However, if an organization does bill and accept insurance for bereavement counseling, it would be important to consult your compliance department and insurance providers. 



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    Karen Monts
    Director, Grief Support Services & Practice Manager, Counseling Services
    Northstar Care Community
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    Original Message


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