| 43 | | - | WHEREAS, the State experienced an increase in the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic by a factor of sixty-five and has remained at that level, which is well above the pre-COVID-19 pandemic usage; and WHEREAS, telehealth adoption was most significant with direct-to-consumer video visits on personal devices and audio-only telephone visits, often without important elements of the physical exam or vital signs being obtained during the visit; and WHEREAS, although there is some data to support the safety, efficacy, timeliness, access, and cost effectiveness of telehealth, the impact of widespread telehealth adoption in the State is largely unknown; and WHEREAS, although telehealth (video and audio) visits may improve short term access to and timeliness of health care, there may be adverse long-term consequences if patients are not seen in person for physical examination, lab work, vital signs, and other in-clinic testing; and WHEREAS, a full evaluation of the impact of widespread telehealth adoption in the State on safety, utilization, total cost of care, and patient and provider satisfaction to determine how best to integrate telehealth into in-person practice as the State transitions out of the COVID-19 pandemic would provide the State with greater insight into existing telehealth challenges and benefits; and WHEREAS, state agencies, health care systems, insurance payers, and private organizations in the State individually have incomplete access to health care utilization, safety, and cost data, so no single organization can fully and accurately study the impact of telehealth in the State; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that a Telehealth Working Group is requested to be established to examine the impact of widespread telehealth adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify public policy initiatives at the federal and state level to optimize telehealth utilization as the State transitions out of the COVID-19 pandemic; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Telehealth Working Group is requested to consist of the following members: (1) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee, who shall serve as co-chairperson of the the working group; (2) A representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, who shall serve as co-chairperson of the working group; (3) The Insurance Commissioner, or the Insurance Commissioner's designee; (4) The Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services, or the Administrator's designee; (5) A representative from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to be appointed by the Licensing administrator of the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division; (6) A representative of the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to be appointed by the President of the University of Hawaii; (7) A representative from the following organizations: (A) Hawaii Medical Association; (B) Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association; and (C) Hawaii Health Information Exchange; and (8) The following members, who shall be invited by the co-chairpersons; (A) Two representatives from health care systems operating in the State; (B) Three representatives from health insurers, mutual benefit societies, or health maintenance organizations operating in the State; and (C) Any additional members deemed necessary by the co-chairpersons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Telehealth Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Insurance Commissioner, Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services, Licensing Administrator of the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, President of the University of Hawaii, President of the Hawaii Medical Association, President of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Health Information Exchange, and the Chief Executive Officers of health care systems, health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations operating in the State. Report Title: Telehealth Working Group; Telehealth Adoption; Public Policy Initiatives |
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| 43 | + | WHEREAS, the State experienced an increase in the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic by a factor of sixty-five and has remained at that level, which is well above the pre-COVID-19 pandemic usage; and WHEREAS, telehealth adoption was most significant with direct-to-consumer video visits on personal devices and audio-only telephone visits, often without important elements of the physical exam or vital signs being obtained during the visit; and WHEREAS, although there is some data to support the safety, efficacy, timeliness, access, and cost effectiveness of telehealth, the impact of widespread telehealth adoption in the State is largely unknown; and WHEREAS, although telehealth (video and audio) visits may improve short term access to and timeliness of health care, there may be adverse long-term consequences if patients are not seen in person for physical examination, lab work, vital signs, and other in-clinic testing; and WHEREAS, a full evaluation of the impact of widespread telehealth adoption in the State on safety, utilization, total cost of care, and patient and provider satisfaction to determine how best to integrate telehealth into in-person practice as the State transitions out of the COVID-19 pandemic would provide the State with greater insight into existing telehealth challenges and benefits; and WHEREAS, state agencies, health care systems, insurance payers, and private organizations in the State individually have incomplete access to health care utilization, safety, and cost data, so no single organization can fully and accurately study the impact of telehealth in the State; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that a Telehealth Working Group is requested to be established to examine the impact of widespread telehealth adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify public policy initiatives at the federal and state level to optimize telehealth utilization as the State transitions out of the COVID-19 pandemic; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Telehealth Working Group is requested to consist of the following members: (1) The chairperson of the House of Representatives standing committee with primary jurisdiction over health, or the chairperson's designee, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the Working Group for the purposes of convening the Working Group; (2) The chairperson of the Senate standing committee with primary jurisdiction over health, or the chairperson's designee, who is requested to serve as co-chairperson of the Working Group for the purposes of convening the Working Group; (3) The Director of Health, or the Director's designee; (4) The Insurance Commissioner, or the Insurance Commissioner's designee; (5) The Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services, or the Administrator's designee; (6) A representative from the Professional and Vocational Licensing Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to be appointed by the Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; (7) A representative of the Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to be appointed by the President of the University of Hawaii; (8) A representative from the following organizations: (A) Hawaii Medical Association; (B) Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association; and (C) Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and (9) The following members, who are requested to be invited by the co-chairpersons; (A) Two representatives from health care systems operating in the State; (B) Two representatives from health insurers, mutual benefit societies, or health maintenance organizations operating in the State; and (C) Any additional members deemed necessary by the co-chairpersons; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Telehealth Working Group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Director of Human Services, President of the University of Hawaii, Insurance Commissioner, Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services, President of the Hawaii Medical Association, President of the Hawaii Psychiatric Medical Association, and President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii. OFFERED BY: _____________________________ Report Title: Telehealth Working Group; Telehealth Adoption; Public Policy Initiatives |
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