Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-2702: Agency responsible for telemedicine and Oklahoma

Telemedicine Network - Duties.

A. 1. With available state or federal funds, the State

Department of Health shall be the state entity responsible for

telemedicine and development of a statewide Oklahoma telemedicine

network. The Department shall also be responsible for the continued

development and implementation of a statewide system for the

delivery of medical and other health care services through a

telehealth system.

2. In order to achieve these duties, the State Board of Health

shall establish a separate office within the State Department of

Health which shall be known as the Oklahoma Center for Telemedicine.

The State Commissioner of Health shall appoint or employ a director

of the office who shall report to the Commissioner and the Board.

The Commissioner shall also employ such other personnel as necessary

to carry out the duties of the Center. The director and other

Center personnel shall have no other duties within the Department

except those directly related to the duties and responsibilities of

the Center.

3. The Center shall have the power and duty to:

a. assess the current status and needs of the

telemedicine network and telehealth in the state,

b. utilize available state and federal funds to the

maximum extent possible,

c. for the purposes of the continued development of

telehealth services in the state, engage with any and

all parties to encourage and assist communications

between entities requiring telemedicine services and

entities offering or providing telemedicine services,

d. resolve problems and otherwise improve the delivery of

telemedicine services,

e. assist and facilitate the coordination efforts of

hospitals and other health care facilities and

providers in the development and delivery of

telemedicine services,

f. explore ways to provide reimbursement to providers for

telehealth services,

g. explore the feasibility of providing health education

services through a telehealth system,

h. study issues of compatibility of technology, and

i. establish and maintain a website and a clearinghouse

for grant information as provided by Section 1-2703 of

this title.

B. The Department shall enter into agreements with appropriate

entities to provide the Center with assistance in carrying out the

provisions of this section.

C. The director of the Center may form advisory groups as is

necessary to work with the Center on telehealth issues.

D. The State Board of Health shall promulgate rules for the

implementation of the teleradiology responsibilities outlined in

this section. The rules shall be based on the American College of

Radiology Standards for Teleradiology.