SCR94

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 Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the House of Representatives concurring, 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

(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

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 Concurrent 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

THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	94
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII