Okla. Admin. Code § 165:59-7-6

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 165:59-7-6 - Telemedicine access for Eligible Health Care Entities

(a) It is the intention of the Commission that this Chapter be interpreted to assist in the development of telemedicine service programs which in turn have the following effects on Eligible Health Care Entities:

(1) Empowering Eligible Health Care Entities, especially those in rural areas, to provide a higher level of medical service;

(2) Expanding the range of medical services available, especially those in rural areas;

(3) Providing greater access to more choices in medical care by patients in rural areas;

(4) Reducing the number of rural patient transfers to urban areas;

(5) Enhancing rural economic development; and

(6) Reducing the costs of medical care at Eligible Health Care Entities.

(b) Upon compliance with the competitive bidding process, and other requirements set forth in the Oklahoma Telecommunications Act, and upon receipt of a written request by an authorized representative of an Eligible Health Care Entity, as defined by this Chapter, the Eligible Provider shall, by itself or in conjunction with another provider of telecommunications services, provide Special Universal Services to the Eligible Health Care Entity.

(c) Special Universal Services to an Eligible Health Care Entity include the provision of bandwidth consistent with 17 O.S. § 139.109.1(A)(1) sufficient for providing telemedicine services including the telemedicine line, reasonable installation, and network termination equipment owned and operated by the Eligible Provider that is necessary to provide the eligible telemedicine service. Bandwidth may be rounded up to the next available standard service increment to avoid increased costs to the fund. Eligible Health Care Entities shall be approved for bandwidth of up to 500 Mbps, unless good cause is shown.

When an Eligible Health Care Entity requests funding for bandwidth in excess of 500 Mbps, the Aministrator, in determining appropriate bandwidth and associated funding, may consider all relevant information, which may include, but is not limited to, the following factors:

(1) Number of health care providers and staff at the Eligible Health Care Entity;

(2) Number of beds at the Eligible Health Care Entity;

(3) The telemedicine services provided at the Eligible Health Care Entity

(4) Support for other telemedicine facilities that require broadband access with consideration for any payments received by the supporting facility;

(5) Bandwidth utilization studies; and

(6) Prior bandwidth usage, not including public network usage.

(d) In no case, however, shall reimbursement from the OUSF be made for an Internet subscriber fee or charges incurred as a result of services accessed via the Internet.

(e) The Eligible Provider shall be entitled to reimbursement from the OUSF for a one-time reasonable charge for the establishment of service of a new telecommunications line or wireless connection. Under this subsection (e), reimbursement is intended to allow for reasonable changes in

(1) the supported services and technologies purchased by an Eligible Health Care Entity,

(2) the physical location of an Eligible Health Care Entity by permitting establishment of new service at a new location, and/or

(3) the Eligible Provider providing service to an Eligible Health Care Entity.

(f) The written request by an authorized representative of an Eligible Health Care Entity to an Eligible Provider shall be in the form and content approved by the Administrator.

(g) The Administrator and/or its contracted agent may periodically seek verification of continued eligibility from an Eligible Health Care Entity, and the Eligible Health Care Entity shall maintain sufficient documentation to be able to provide verification of eligibility within fifteen (15) calendar days after request of the Administrator, unless an extension of time within which to respond is granted by the Administrator and/or its contracted agent for good cause shown.

(h) If the Eligible Health Care Entity is eligible for Rural Health Care Program funding, the following documents shall be provided to the Administrator within thirty (30) calendar days after the Eligible Health Care Entity has either submitted the form to USAC, or received the form from USAC, whichever is applicable.

(1) If eligible under the Telecommunications program, the Eligible Provider or Eligible Health Care Entity must provide the Administrator the FCC Form 466, Funding Commitment Letter, FCC Form 467, and Health Care Provider Support Schedule.

(2) If eligible under the Healthcare Connect Fund, the Eligible Provider or Eligible Health Care Entity must provide the Administrator the FCC Forms 460, 461, and 462, associated network cost worksheet, and Funding Commitment Letter.

Okla. Admin. Code § 165:59-7-6

Reserved at 14 Ok Reg 2562, eff 7-1-97 ; Added at 18 Ok Reg 2448, eff 7-1-01 ; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1819, eff 7-1-05 ; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1583, eff 7-12-12 ; Amended at 30 Ok Reg 1581, eff 7-11-13

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 23, August 15, 2024, eff. 9/1/2024