Accessing Rula telehealth services while you are out-of-state

Discover how moving—whether short-term or long-term—and traveling can impact your options for accessing telehealth care through Rula.

If you're planning a move, even for a limited time, you might question whether you can maintain your relationship with your existing therapist or psychiatric provider. This guide explores key considerations and a few common scenarios you may encounter if you are moving or traveling out-of-state, to help you navigate the changes.

Providers who contract with Rula are bound by their licenses to only treat patients who are physically located in the state(s) with which they hold their license. Please discuss with your provider any upcoming plans to move or travel out-of-state, and see below for more information.

Overview

If a patient is traveling, it is important that therapists and psychiatric providers comply with all relevant laws and regulations in both their own state and the state in which the patient is located when engaging in interstate therapy or psychiatry practice; this includes Telehealth. Please see below for answers on how to handle common scenarios you may encounter.

Scenario 1 | Temporary travel or move (less than 30 days)

• Scenario: A patient is traveling out of state temporarily. 
• Answer: Continuing to see their provider is allowable for temporary situations of less than 30 days. Please discuss this with your provider prior to any travel.

Scenario 4 | Permanent or indefinite move

• Scenario: A patient is moving to a new state permanently or indefinitely (greater than 30 days).
• Answer: Patients who are permanently or indefinitely moving out of the state in which they registered with Rula will need to update their information in Rula systems and find a new provider that is licensed to practice in their new state by following the steps below.

1. 1. Fill out a new "Find your match" form for Rula on our website (linked here),
      1. Be sure to select the state you have moved to/will be moving to in the State field.
   2. Add any new insurance information that you'll be using in this state.
      
   3. Once you have filled out your new registration form, you'll be able to book an initial appointment with a new provider in your new state.
   4. Cancel any future appointments in the Rula patient portal, if necessary:
      1. If you have already moved to the new state - cancel any upcoming appointments you may still have with your provider in your former state.
      2. If you have not yet moved to the new state - cancel any appointments you may have with your provider after your move date.

Scenario 3 | Provider move or travel

• Scenario: A provider is outside of the state they usually practice/perform visits with a patient, and the patient is not. 
• Answer: The provider should look up the requirements of the state they are in. If the client is in-state and the provider is out-of-state, this depends on local state regulations. States require providers to apply for temporary licenses in their states. Please discuss this situation with your provider.

Additional Resources

• Managing your appointments - Detailed instructions on how you can use Rula patient portal to view, reschedule, and cancel upcoming appointments
• Finding a new provider - Detailed instructions on how you can replace your current provider with a new provider
• Contacting your provider - Provides information on how to securely message your provider