Bill Text: NJ A4403 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes "Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [A4403 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A4403-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes "Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the "Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force."
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in the Department of Health the "Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force." The purpose of this task force is to study current telehealth and telemedicine practices in New Jersey and develop recommendations to better serve the medical needs of New Jersey residents through telehealth and telemedicine.
b. The task force shall consist of 21 members as follows:
(1) two public members with expertise in telemedicine and telehealth, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
(2) one public member representing an organization that advocates for healthcare access, appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly;
(3) two public members with expertise in telemedicine and telehealth, appointed by the President of the Senate;
(4) one public member representing an organization that advocates for healthcare access, appointed by the President of the Senate;
(5) the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee;
(6) a representative from the Health Information Technology Program of the Department of Health;
(7) a representative from the Division of Medical Assistance and Human Services in the Department of Human Services;
(8) a representative from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services;
(9) a representative from the Health Bureau staff from the Division of Insurance in the Department of Banking and Insurance;
(10) a representative from the Telemedicine and Telehealth Review Commission, established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-65); and
(11) nine members appointed by the Governor, who shall include one member from each of the following entities: the State Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of Psychological Examiners, the Board of Pharmacy, the New Jersey Primary Care Association, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, the New Jersey State Office of Rural Health in the Department of Health, the Division of Telecommunications under the Board of Public Utilities, and the State Health Planning Board.
c. The members of this task force shall be appointed within 30 days after the effective date of this act. The task force shall organize as soon as practicable following the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The presence of 11 members shall constitute a quorum.
d. The task force will meet regularly as the task force determines, or at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the task force's membership.
e. All meetings of the task force shall be open to the public. Agendas, minutes, documents, and testimony from all meetings shall be posted on the Department of Health's Internet website.
f. All members of this task force shall serve without compensation.
g. Any vacancies in the membership of this task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
h. The Department of Health shall provide stenographic, clerical, and other administrative assistants, and professional staff as the task force requires to carry out the task force's work. The task force shall be entitled to call to the task force's assistance and avail of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as the task force may require and as may be available for the task force's purposes.
2. The duties of the Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force, established by section 1 of this act, shall include, but not be limited to:
a. conducting a survey of the current telehealth and telemedicine infrastructure and capacity in the State across different healthcare providers and scopes of practice;
b. identifying gaps in the current telehealth and telemedicine infrastructure for the delivery of care to residents of this State, including, but not limited to, challenges regarding payment, healthcare quality, licensure, broadband connectivity, system interoperability, and data integration;
c. identifying opportunities to leverage telehealth and telemedicine services to manage high healthcare costs and address healthcare disparities;
d. making recommendations to:
(1) ensure access to high-quality telehealth and telemedicine services across all geographical areas within the State, including, but not limited to, rural and underserved population areas;
(2) coordinate telehealth and telemedicine services among healthcare providers;
(3) develop systems of data standardization and health information exchange; and
(4) any other matters the task
force deems necessary and appropriate.
3. The task force shall present a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature no later than one year after the organization of the task force.
4. This act shall take effect immediately, and the task force shall expire 30 days after the issuance of its report.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes in the Department of Health the "Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force." The purpose of this task force is to study current telehealth and telemedicine practices in New Jersey and develop recommendations to better service the medical needs of New Jersey residents through telehealth and telemedicine.
The task force will consist of 21 members, including: three public members by the Speaker of the General Assembly, three public members appointed by the Senate President, the Commissioner of Health, or the commissioner's designee, a representative from the Health Information Technology Program of the Department of Health, a representative from the Division of Medical Assistance and Human Services in the Department of Human Services, a representative from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services in the Department of Human Services, a representative from the Health Bureau staff from the Division of Insurance in the Department of Banking and Insurance, a representative from the Telemedicine and Telehealth Review Commission, established pursuant to section 5 of P.L.2017, c.117 (C.45:1-65); and nine members appointed by the Governor, that will include one member from each of the following entities: the State Board of Medical Examiners, the State Board of Psychological Examiners, the Board of Pharmacy, the New Jersey Primary Care Association, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, the New Jersey State Office of Rural Health in the Department of Health, the Division of Telecommunications under the Board of Public Utilities, and the State Health Planning Board.
The duties of the Telehealth and Telemedicine Improvement Task Force include, but are not limited to conducting a survey of the current telehealth and telemedicine infrastructure and capacity in the State; identifying gaps in the current telehealth and telemedicine infrastructure; identifying opportunities to leverage telehealth and telemedicine services to manage high healthcare costs and address healthcare disparities. The task force will also make recommendations to ensure access to high-quality telehealth and telemedicine services across all geographical areas within the State, including, but not limited to, rural and underserved population areas; coordinate telehealth and telemedicine services among providers; develop systems of data standardization and health information exchange; and any other matters the task force deems necessary and appropriate.
The task force will present a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor to the Legislature no later than one year after the organization of the task force. The task force will expire 30 days after the issuance of its report.
