[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 41640]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20270]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Request for Comments on Legal Issues Related to Telemedicine

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Health and 
Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Pub.L. 104-104), 
Congress directs the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, to submit a report highlighting 
the activities of the Joint Working Group on Telemedicine (JWGT) and 
other Federal activities to promote the cost-effective use of 
telemedicine (Section 709). The JWGT is a Federal interagency working 
group that examines issues and makes recommendations regarding national 
policy on telemedicine. The Office of Rural Health Policy, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, provides staff support to the 
JWGT. Telemedicine is defined as the use of modern telecommunications 
and information technologies for the provision of clinical care to 
individuals at a distance.
    In this notice, we seek comments identifying the legal barriers to 
the cost-effective use of telemedicine and specific suggestions for 
overcoming these barriers. In particular, we seek suggestions for 
easing licensure barriers to physicians and other health professionals 
providing telemedicine services across state lines, and comments on 
specific alternatives, such as those recently proposed by the 
Federation of State Medical Boards and the Institute of Electrical and 
Electronics Engineers. Respondents are encouraged to explore the 
advantages and disadvantages of a wide range of options such as various 
types of limited state licensure, registration of out-of-state 
physicians as proposed in California, regional and national initiatives 
to expand reciprocity among states, national licensure in terms of 
their impact on access and quality of health care services, and 
feasibility and cost of implementation. In addition to addressing 
cross-state licensure issues, respondents are encouraged to provide 
comments and suggestions on other legal issues associated with 
telemedicine such as liability/malpractice. Finally, we are asking 
respondents to identify the particular challenges in assuring privacy, 
confidentiality, and security in the conduct of telemedicine and 
provide suggestions for addressing those challenges. Comments will be 
reviewed and considered for incorporation into the final report to 
Congress.

DATES: Comments should be filed on or before August 30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Copies of comments should be sent to: Dena S. Puskin, Sc.D., 
Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services 
Administration, Room 9-05, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dena S. Puskin, Sc.D., 301-443-0835, 
[email protected].

    Dated: August 8, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-20270 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-U