2023 Arizona Revised Statutes › Title 36 - Public Health and Safety › § 36-3607 - Telehealth advisory committee on telehealth best practices; membership; reports

36-3607.
Telehealth advisory committee on telehealth best practices;  membership;  reports
A. The telehealth advisory committee on telehealth best practices is established consisting of the following members who are appointed by the governor:
1. One physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 13.
2. One physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 17 and who is practicing primary care in this state.
3. Two advanced practice registered nurses who are licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 15.
4. One physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 13 or 17 and who specializes in pain management.
5. One psychiatrist who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 13 or 17.
6. One psychologist who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 19.1.
7. Two behavioral health professionals who are licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 33,  one of whom is employed by an outpatient treatment center.
8. One physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 14.
9. One health care professional whose primary area of focus is treating persons with developmental disabilities.
10. One health care professional whose primary area of focus is industrial injuries.
11. One speech-language pathologist who is licensed pursuant to chapter 17 of this title.
12. One occupational therapist who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 34.
13. One hospital administrator.
14. One physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 25.
15. One representative of the Arizona commission for the deaf and the hard of hearing.
16. Two representatives of health care insurers who are licensed health care providers.
17. One optometrist who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 16.
18. One representative of a vertically integrated telemedicine technology manufacturer of hardware and compatible software.
19. One behavior analyst who is licensed pursuant to title 32,  chapter 19.1.
20. One representative from each of the following:
(a) The Arizona health care cost containment system.
(b) The department of health services.
(c) The department of economic security.
(d) The department of insurance and financial institutions.
(e) The industrial commission of Arizona.
B. The advisory committee:
1. Shall review national and other standards for telehealth best practices and relevant peer-reviewed literature.
2. May conduct public meetings at which testimony may be taken regarding the efficacy of various communications media and the types of services and populations for which telehealth is appropriate.
3. Shall adopt telehealth best practice guidelines and recommendations regarding the health care services that may be appropriately provided through an audio-only telehealth format and make updates,  when applicable. Before making its recommendations,  the advisory committee shall analyze medical literature and national practice guidelines,  consider the comparative effectiveness and safety and the benefit to the patient of performing a service through an audio-only telehealth format instead of in person or through an audio-visual telehealth format,  and the appropriate frequency and duration of audio-only telehealth encounters.
4. May authorize subcommittees to address select issues or services and report to the advisory committee as directed.
5. On or before December 1,  2021,  shall submit a report to the governor,  the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives with the advisory committee's recommendations regarding the specific health care services that are appropriate to provide through an audio-only telehealth format as a substitute for an in-person or audio-visual telehealth encounter.
6. On or before June 30,  2022,  shall submit a report to the governor,  the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives with the advisory committee's recommendations regarding telehealth best practice guidelines for health care providers.
C. The Arizona health care cost containment system shall staff the advisory committee and provide meeting space.