HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

16

TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF TELEDENTISTRY FOR THE VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, SUCH AS ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE AND COST EFFICIENCIES, AND TO IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS TO THE PRACTICE OF TELEDENTISTRY IN HAWAII.

 

 


WHEREAS, telehealth refers to the use of technology to provide health care at a distance. The important and increasing role of telehealth in the delivery of health care has been recognized for decades; and

 

WHEREAS, now States and dental institutions have studied and/or implemented the use of teledentistry to deliver oral health services, and evidence is emerging that these technologies can enhance the ability of the oral health delivery system to reach vulnerable and underserved populations. Many of these vulnerable and underserved populations reside in the areas that lack access to oral health care and specialty services.

 

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has a unique geographic topography that includes five main islands, where 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; and

 

WHEREAS, this new care delivery model can provide a much needed community based "virtual dental home" for the State's most vulnerable and underserved populations, who will access dental services in their own communities. It also will remove some of the barriers to receiving care in a traditional dental office setting. This model allows dentists and dental hygienists working in community sites to connect with a dental home in private dentist's offices and in public health settings; 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. The dentist reviews the patient's information and creates a tentative dental treatment plan. 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 the vulnerable and underserved populations, such as access to dental care and cost efficiencies, and identify barriers to the practice of teledentistry in the State of Hawaii; and

 

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

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Director, or the Director's designee is requested to solicit representatives from the following entities to serve on the task force, provided that those persons designated shall have the appropriate dental background and knowledge of the existing dental care issues in the State and within their respective organizations:

 

(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, Hawaii Medical Service Association, Kaiser Permanente (Hawaii), and other dental insurers;

 

(7)  Hawaii Primary Care Association;

 

(8)  House Committee of Health;

 

(9)  House Committee of Consumer Protection and Commerce;

 

(10) Senate Committee of Health;

 

(11) Senate Committee of Commerce and Consumer Protection;

 

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

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the task force are

requested to serve without compensation for 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 twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2015; and

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

BY REQUEST

Report Title: 

Task Force to Study the Potential Benefits of Teledentistry