Distance Counseling Laws by State 2026

Live Video

Yes

State	Live Video↓	Reimburse S&F	Reimburse RM	Reimburse AO	Private Payer Law	Private Payer Parity
Alabama	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
Alaska	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Arizona	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Arkansas	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
California	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Colorado	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Connecticut	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Delaware	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
District of Columbia	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Florida	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Georgia	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Hawaii	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Idaho	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
Illinois	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Indiana	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Iowa	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Kansas	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Kentucky	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Louisiana	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Maine	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Maryland	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Massachusetts	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Michigan	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Minnesota	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mississippi	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Missouri	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Montana	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Nebraska	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Nevada	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
New Hampshire	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
New Jersey	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
New Mexico	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
New York	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
North Carolina	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
North Dakota	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Ohio	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Oklahoma	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Oregon	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pennsylvania	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
Rhode Island	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
South Carolina	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
South Dakota	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
Tennessee	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Texas	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Utah	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Vermont	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Virginia	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Washington	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
West Virginia	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Wisconsin	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Wyoming	Yes	No	No	No	No	No

All reimbursement data refers to Medicaid reimbursements and uses the following abbreviations:

S&F = Storage and Forwarding of live video sessions.
RM = Remote Patient Monitoring
AO = Audio Only

In the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery, distance counseling, also known as teletherapy or telehealth, has become increasingly prevalent. It offers individuals the opportunity to access mental health services remotely, breaking down barriers related to geographical distance, transportation, and mobility. However, the legality and reimbursement policies surrounding distance counseling vary from state to state, shaping how and where these services can be provided.

States like Alaska, Arizona, California, and Hawaii have embraced distance counseling, offering comprehensive provisions that allow for various modalities such as live video sessions, audio-only consultations, and remote patient monitoring. These states recognize the importance of leveraging technology to expand access to mental health services, particularly in remote or underserved areas.

On the other hand, some states have more restrictive regulations or limited reimbursement policies for distance counseling. States like Idaho, Nevada, and Rhode Island have fewer provisions, potentially hindering access to teletherapy for residents.

Distance Counseling Laws by State 2026

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