2006 New York Code - Telemedicine Demonstration Program.

 
    §  3621.  Telemedicine  demonstration  program. 1. The commissioner is
  authorized to sponsor, to conduct and to  participate  in  research  and
  demonstration projects under subdivision two of this section designed to
  provide  additional  knowledge and experience and to collect information
  concerning improving the use  of  technologies,  including  the  use  of
  telemedicine,  telehomecare  and  other  innovative technologies for the
  purposes of improving the quality of home care services.
    2. Projects shall be awarded to home care agencies that are  licensed,
  certified  or  exempt  under  this  article.  Project  awards  shall  be
  disbursed to qualifying projects pursuant to  a  request  for  proposals
  process  based  on  criteria  related  to  promoting  the  efficient and
  effective delivery of appropriate,  quality,  cost  effective  home  and
  community  based services. Consideration may also be given to geographic
  distribution. Such initiatives shall include, but shall not  be  limited
  to:
    (a)  telehomecare technology initiatives that facilitate the provision
  of therapies by licensed professionals  who  may,  through  the  use  of
  interactive  video  technologies,  monitor  the  progress  of  home care
  patients in a more efficient and cost-effective manner;
    (b) telehomecare technology initiatives  that  utilize  technology  to
  enhance  collaboration  and  communication among the home care aide, the
  supervising home health nurse, the  patient's  primary  care  physician,
  and/or  any  other essential health care personnel, including the use of
  web-based technologies for physician  order  entry,  electronic  medical
  records and patient referral; and
    (c)  other  telehomecare technology initiatives that may contribute to
  improving the quality of  care  and  enhancing  the  efficiency  of  its
  delivery to home care patients.
    3.  The  department  shall issue an annual report to the governor, the
  speaker of the assembly, and the temporary president of the senate. Such
  report shall contain, at  a  minimum,  the  following  information:  the
  initiatives   implemented  pursuant  to  this  section,  their  date  of
  implementation, their costs, and any  cost  savings  generated  by  such
  initiatives,  and  the  appropriateness  of  incorporating  the  use  of
  telemedicine and telehomecare technologies into the Medicaid program.