Mental Health FAQ

Increasing healthcare worker access to mental healthcare is important to WVUH; providers should have access to the same care and respect their patients receive every day. One of the perceived barriers for physicians can be the potential impact of seeking mental healthcare on privileging, credentialing, and licensure. In the past, licensing bodies have asked questions that can be invasive or stigmatizing, but that is changing. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Does accessing mental health care impact my ability to get hospital credentialing?

Generally no, and definitely not in the State of WV. WV has universal credentialing so all hospitals in the state use the same credentialing questions. 

Does accessing mental health care impact my professional licensure?

In general, no, so long as there is no “impairment”. Each state licensing body has their own requirements for licensure. Increasingly, state medical boards – including in WV - recognize that questions asked regarding mental health and substance use should not be invasive or stigmatizing. In 2021, the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) created a policy statement on optimizing the balance of physician health and patient safety. In this policy, they recommend: “avoiding the inclusion of questions about current medical or psychiatric conditions or counseling, or previous history of impairment on applications for medical licensure, or offering a “safe haven” alternative of not reporting treatment sought either through the PHP model or a physician expert model that involves comprehensive care management and monitoring.” Both West Virginia licensing boards indicate that they are compliant with this recommendation.

The FSMB statement further notes that licensure questions should center on impairment, not illness: “It is important to distinguish illness from impairment. Illness, per se, does not constitute impairment. When functional impairment exists, it is often the result of an illness in need of treatment. Therefore, with appropriate treatment, the issue of impairment may be prevented or resolved while the diagnosis of illness may remain.”

How does the organization protect my confidentiality?

Confidentiality for mental health care is protected in the following ways:

1. EAP (WVUH): EAP is confidential and mental health care is provided through local community providers that contract with the EAP service.
2. FSAP (WVU): FSAP keeps records on a separate system from Epic, therefore, no one outside of FSAP can see these records. FSAP is subject to HIPAA except in situations of mandatory referral (and even then, the employee must have signed a consent).
3. WVUMedicine: your records are afforded the same confidentiality of any other patient. WVUMedicine is subject to HIPAA.

How much does mental healthcare cost?

This depends on the type of care you utilize. EAP and FSAP are completely free for employees and their families (these are benefits of WVUH and WVU, respectively). Faculty physicians are eligible for both since we are dual WVU/UHA employees. Getting care within the institution, either at your clinical site, or in another clinical site in the WVUMedicine system, is covered by insurance according to the type of insurance you have (either PEIA or PEAK) but co-pays average around $30-40 dollars. If you wish to seek care outside the system for confidentiality reasons, many places take the same insurance and would carry the same cost. If you don’t want your mental health care to be submitted to insurance or your provider doesn’t take your insurance, you can expect a cost of $100-400 on average. For some people the extra cost is worth the extra confidentiality. 

How can I access mental healthcare with my clinical schedule?

We provide a special email address for assistance in scheduling at either Ruby or East, or they can offer some community recommendations. This email address is overseen directly by a lead BMed admin who has traditionally helped with scheduling when requested by department chairs and others - by creating a direct email address to schedule, we are seeking to democratize that process.  Contact CWO for details.

Will anyone outside my direct clinical team have access to my mental health records or the fact that I am getting care?

No, no one else will have access to your records (but see below).

What if I am mandatorily referred by my boss to FSAP?

In situations of mandatory referral, FSAP reports back to the referring leader and makes treatment recommendations relevant to the specific concern. They report attendance and compliance. Once a mandatory referral is made, FSAP follows you in that capacity for one year.

How are mental health care records kept? Are they separate from other kinds of healthcare records?

That depends on where you are receiving care. FSAP uses a separate medical records system, so your records with them are separate from all other records. WVUMedicine keeps all records in Epic. Outside providers will keep their own independent records.

Will getting mental health care affect my work (promotion, etc.)?

No, mental healthcare will not affect work or promotions. If you are mandatorily referred as part of an improvement plan, some academic promotions may be held until the improvement plan is resolved.

Will my division chief or chair know?

No, not unless you have been mandatorily referred to FSAP as part of an improvement plan.

What are my options for care (including outside of system)?

There are lots of options for mental healthcare. Like any service, they will vary in quality, style, and how they are run. Word of mouth may be a good strategy to finding a provider that works for you. Keep in mind that you may need to “try out” a couple before you find one that works for you. When looking at these services its important to understand billing, scheduling/ cancellation, and the qualifications and treatment style of the people providing the care.

1. FSAP: FSAP provides up to three free visits per year for faculty (unlimited for residents when staffing allows). Residents heavily utilize this service, and as such the providers are well-versed in the difficulties of medical training and the hospital environment. FSAP also maintains lists of local community providers including couples therapists, therapists of color, etc, available upon request.
2. EAP: The “Live-Balanced” program offers a free benefit including 5 free counseling sessions for employees and dependents. Services are confidential and available 24/7. Call 1-800-865-3200. You receive a list of several local providers who are contracted with the EAP company, and they see you for five free sessions. You make contact with them to set up appointments. Importantly, being on the EAP list does not ensure that the provider will be able to see you timely.
3. WVUMedicine: Behavioral medicine providers at Ruby and East locations are available with expedited scheduling. These providers maintain the same confidentiality for HCW patients as they do all other patients. See earlier in this FAQ for details.
4. Local community providers: There are several providers in the community who enjoy and have extensive experience in caring for HCW. They often take our insurance since they are local, and may have a niche in HCW mental health care specifically for WVU providers wishing for an extra layer of privacy as they are not affiliated with WVU. Word of mouth may be a good option to find these providers, or the Carruth Center at WVU maintains a list of some local community providers. The “Psychology Today” website also maintains lists.
5. Online Therapy Platforms: A number of online services offer remote, virtual mental health care. These services often advertise online. When looking at these services its important to understand billing, scheduling/ cancellation, and the qualifications and treatment style of the people providing the care.
6. Boutique providers that specialize in HCW mental health: There are a number of mental healthcare providers that specialize in HCW mental health. They often market themselves as such. They may accept a variety of payment options but some may be private pay. Some may provide discounts for residents. An internet search often yields some options of this type.
7. West Virginia Medical Professionals Health Program: Treatment under the WVMPHP is afforded specific protections under WV Senate bill 573 (passed in 2007). The WVMPHP is an independent not-for-profit organization which is the board-recognized Physicians Health Program for both allopathic and osteopathic licensure boards in West Virginia. The WVMPHP is completely independent of employers, licensure boards, training institutions or any other components of organized medicine. This a voluntary and confidential program providing assistance and guidance to those who are referred for concerns of substance use disorder and/or mental health conditions which could potentially impact their ability to safely practice medicine. The WVMPHP assists healthcare professionals by overseeing the assessment and treatment process and developing a plan to return to practice of medicine. There are very strict guidelines for if and when confidential patient information must be disclosed. Licensees are not required to disclose their WVMPHP participation for qualifying illnesses to their medical board upon license renewal.