oklahoma universal service fund for telehealth
TRANSCRIPT
November 11, 2014
Maribeth Snapp, Telecom Policy DirectorMarci White, Sr. Technology Analyst
OUSF Telemedicine Program
Eligible Healthcare Entities
Pursuant to 17 O.S. § 139.102 and 17 O.S. § 139.109:Each healthcare entity requesting funding must fit into one or more of the following
categories: Not-for-profit Hospital with hospital license for time period of request County Health Department City-County Health Department Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse facility – facilities operated by ODMHSAS
or certified by ODMHSAS as 450:17 (Community Mental Health Center), 450:23 (Community Based Structured Crisis Center) or 450:24 (Community Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Center) – Need certificate of licensure for time period of request
Department of Corrections Facility
Changes to OUSF in 2014New statutory definitions in 17 O.S. §139.102
"Hospital" means a healthcare entity that has been granted a hospital license by the Oklahoma Department of Health for that particular location. (new definition)
“Not-for-profit hospital” now requires a hospital license for that particular location (modified definition)
Mental health facilities"Not-for-profit mental health and substance abuse
facility" means a facility operated by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or a facility certified by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as a Community Mental Health Care Center, a Community-Based Structured Crisis Center or a Community Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Center;
We typically refer to these as Chapter 17, Chapter 23 and Chapter 24 facilities, which reflects the Mental Health Department rules under which they are licensed
Pursuant to 17 O.S. § 139.109(C)(2)
“….one telecommunications line or wireless connection sufficient for providing such telemedicine, clinical and health consultation services as the entity's telemedicine equipment and service applications require. The telecommunications carrier shall be entitled to reimbursement from the Oklahoma Universal Service Fund for providing the line or connection.”
PUD Policy – Bandwidth Guidelines
Public Utility Division (PUD) Bandwidth Guidelines:
Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Only 1.5MbpsEMR + X-Ray 4 Mbps1 Video Conference Unit + EMR 10 Mbps2-3 Video Conference Units + EMR 20 MbpsConsider NBP standards if available (next slide)
Telemedicine File Sizes
Telemedicine Recertification
Applications due on February 1 each yearALL telemedicine entities currently approved for OUSF
funding OR receiving OUSF credits on invoices are required to file for telemedicine recertification each year
Applications are available on OCC website with OUSF forms – Be sure to use the current form
Notifications will be sent no later than May 1Funding changes are effective July 1 of each year for
increase/decrease or cease funding
Rural Healthcare/Healthcare Connect
Per 165:59-7-10 - Other sources of fundsRecipients of funds for Special Universal Services should make
every reasonable effort to seek other sources of funding from state or federal funds, to minimize the impact on the Oklahoma Universal Service Fund.
Send HCP Support Schedule to PUD with application or as soon as received from USAC to support RHC or HCP funding. – Be sure to complete the process!
The OUSF will fund the minimum of the invoiced bandwidth less RHC/HCP or the price of the reduced bandwidth. RHC/HCP is first applied to charges that are ineligible for OUSF funding.
Competitive Bidding Requirements
PUD will be requesting competitive bidding information from schools, libraries and telemedicine entities on all OUSF applications.
All bids, bid evaluation sheets and supporting documentation to support the chosen carrier must be submitted.
A written narrative of the reasons supporting the bid selected (or why another bid was not selected) must be submitted.
OUSF Telemedicine Top 10
What NOT To Do
#10
One form for ALL of your eligible entities
EACH eligible telemedicine facility must fill out their own OUSF funding packet or recertification packet.
#9
Last Year’s Forms
Please make sure the current OUSF Telemedicine Application or Recertification Forms are used from the
OCC website.
February 1, 2015 form will have 2015 at the top of the form
#8
Fill out whatever you want…PUD doesn’t need it all anyway…
Incomplete Telemedicine Applications or Recertification Applications will result in a delay in notification of
bandwidth funding
#7
Two lines are ok, as long as we give the address around the corner too, right?
OUSF will fund one telemedicine line per eligible entity – this includes alternative addresses at the same location.
#6
No Umbrellas!A hospital license for a main campus does not act as an “umbrella” to
cover additional facilities with the same ownership. Each eligible healthcare entity must have a hospital license with their individual
address on the license to be eligible for OUSF.
Questions? Call us directly!
#5You mean I was supposed to actually get federal funding – not
just apply for it?
Healthcare entity fills out Form 465 and sends a copy in with OUSF Applications – then never follows up with the remaining process through USAC
PUD will be following up with healthcare facilities to ensure the process is followed through by requesting final disbursement forms!
#4Don’t just tell us you have
“a lot of equipment”
=
Not very helpful!
#3
Where did this bill come from?
No recertification application = No funding after July 1You may start receiving invoices from your provider if you do not
complete the telemedicine recertification process.
#2
Don’t tell us you selected a provider only because you “liked them”
PUD will evaluate the provider selection based upon what a “prudent man” would have done. What decision would you have made if the
funding came out of your own pocket?
#1
We didn’t have anyone to ask…
PUD is here to help!
PUD Contacts
General PUD Contact – 405-521-4114
Maribeth Snapp, Telecom Policy Director405-522-1409 [email protected]
Jim Jones, Telecom Manager405-521-6737 [email protected]
Chris Herbison, OUSF Fund Controller405-522-3375, [email protected]
Marci White, Sr. Technology Analyst405-291-0253, [email protected]