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Alaska Telehealth Advisory Council

COMMISSION

Original Draft Charge for the Alaska Telehealth Advisory Commission

January 1999

  1. Propose a framework for rational development and deployment of statewide capacity for telehealth/telemedicine systems.
  2. Establish core principles to ensure a coordinated, cost-effective, and integrated approach to telemedicine in Alaska.
  3. Consider ways to assess effectiveness, efficiency, and whether or not telemedicine is improving equity of access to health care services for all Alaskans. Recommend process for addressing issues as they emerge with changing technologies and practice patterns.

Tentative Time Frame for Discussion:

Meeting 1:

    • Review charge and scope of work;
    • Draft list of tasks and information to be assembled;
    • Develop a tentative outline and goals for Commission report;

Meeting 2:

    • Identify and discuss barriers to effective and efficient development of telehealth;
    • Discuss existing telehealth activities, and the state's resources and assets; outline alternatives for a strategic plan;

Meeting 3: Develop final recommendations: general principles, strategies, and process

Meeting 4: As needed to complete the work of the Commission.

Selected Issues for Consideration by the Alaska Telehealth Advisory Commission

1. Clarify Goals, Objectives and Accountability Structures of Interested Parties/Stakeholders
  • AFHCAN Project (Alaska Federal Health Care Access Network)
  • Private hospitals and other health care providers
  • University
  • Medical, Public Health and Mental Health Communities
  • State service providers and policy making agencies (DHSS, AK Dept. of Corrections)
  • Other social services providers
  • Telecommunications service providers

2. Develop Core Principles for Development of Telehealth in Alaska
  • Efficiency and cost effectiveness
  • Responsible use of funds and resources
  • Equal access to health care services
  • Adequacy and access to the infrastructure
  • Open architecture of systems

3. Outline Competitive Forces and Common Goals
  • Competition for resources
  • Competition for patients, clients, market share
  • Developing rational referral systems
  • Security and confidentiality
  • Competition in Telecommunications (and alternative technologies)
  • Linkages, compatibility and barriers among the telecommunications providers
  • Differing expertise, technologies, interface issues
  • Infrastructure gaps

4. Identify State Policy Issues in Telemedicine and Telehealth
  • Liability
  • Licensure
  • Reimbursement
  • Standards of Care
  • Technical standards
  • Recommend strategy for policy development
5. Recommend Policies for Assuring Accountability, Conflict Resolution and Collaboration
  • Common principles for planning and action
  • Roles of government and the private sector
  • Legislative initiatives
  • Reporting and evaluation:: state data needs; Federal expectations
  • Planning guidelines: business plans, needs assessments, clinician priorities, feasibility studies
  • Assessment of efficacy, adequacy, and equity of resource distribution;
  • Planning process for the future
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