Bill Text: HI HCR16 | 2014 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Task Force to Study the Potential Benefits of Teledentistry

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2014-04-08 - Referred to HTH/TEC/HMS. [HCR16 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2014-HCR16-Amended.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	16
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF TELEDENTISTRY FOR VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS in the state and to IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO THE PRACTICE OF TELEDENTISTRY IN the state.

 

 

WHEREAS, telehealth, the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies, has an important and increasing role in the delivery of health care; and

 

WHEREAS, states and dental institutions have studied and implemented the use of teledentistry to deliver oral health services; and

 

WHEREAS, evidence is emerging that telehealth technologies can enhance the ability of the oral health delivery system to reach vulnerable and underserved populations, many of whom reside in areas that lack access to oral health care and specialty services; and

 

WHEREAS, the majority of oral health professionals, including specialists, reside and work on the island of Oahu; and

 

WHEREAS, teledentistry can be an effective way to improve access to oral health care by removing some of the barriers to receiving care in a traditional dental office setting, allowing dentists and dental hygienists working in community sites to connect with a dental home in private dentists' offices or public health settings; and

 

WHEREAS, this new health care delivery model can provide a community-based "virtual dental home" for the State's most vulnerable and underserved populations by enabling them and others to access dental services in their own communities; and

WHEREAS, equipped with the latest portable imaging equipment, community-based oral health professionals collect electronic dental records such as X-rays, photographs, and dental and medical histories, and upload the information to a secure website where they are reviewed by a collaborating dentist, who reviews the patient's information and creates a tentative dental treatment plan; and

 

WHEREAS, after the remote examinations, dental hygienists may perform preventive procedures in the community and track and refer those people who need to be seen in the dental office; and

 

WHEREAS, the "virtual dental home" is an innovative example of one of the many ways technology can improve the delivery of dental care services; now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to establish a task force to study the potential benefits of teledentistry for vulnerable and underserved populations in the State, including access to dental care and cost effectiveness, and identify barriers to the practice of teledentistry in the State; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health, or the Director's designee, is requested to serve as the chair of the task force; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director of Health, or the Director's designee, is requested to solicit representatives from the following entities to serve on the task force:   

 

     (1)  Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division;

 

     (2)  Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Hawaii Dental Board of Examiners;

 

     (3)  University of Hawaii, Dental Hygiene School;

 

     (4)  Hawaii Dental Association;

 

     (5)  Hawaiian Islands Oral Health Task Force;

 

     (6)  Hawaii Dental Service;

 

     (7)  Hawaii Medical Service Association;

 

     (8)  Kaiser Permanente (Hawaii);

 

     (9)  Hawaii Primary Care Association;

 

    (10)  House Committee on Health;

 

    (11)  House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce;

 

    (12)  Senate Committee on Health;

 

    (13)  Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection; and

 

    (14)  Any other individuals or entities that may contribute to the task force;

 

provided that any individual who serves on the task force shall have appropriate dental background and knowledge of the existing dental care issues in the State and within their respective organizations; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force will

serve without compensation for their time associated with task force activities; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; President of the Senate; Speaker of the House of Representatives; Attorney General; Director of Health; Director of Human Services; Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Chairperson of the Hawaii Board of Dental Examiners; Dean of the University of Hawaii School of Nursing & Dental Hygiene; President of the Hawaii Dental Association; Hawaiian Islands Oral Health Task Force, and other County Oral Health Task Forces; President and Chief Executive Officer of Hawaii Dental Service; President of Hawaii Medical Service Association; President of Kaiser Permanente (Hawaii); Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Primary Care Association; Chairperson of the House Committee on Health; Chairperson of the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce; Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health; and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Report Title: 

Task Force to Study the Potential Benefits of Teledentistry