<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style></style></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1>HI Fellows: Joe Giaimo, D.O., HPF Class of 2007, is the current Chair of the AOA Bureau on State Government Affairs.  Dr. Giaimo would like to invite Fellows to serve as resources in order to better understand and analyze key state health policy issues.  <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>According to the AOA website, “the Bureau of State Government Affairs is the representative body created to assure the AOA Board of Trustees and the osteopathic family that the tenets of the profession are protected and advanced in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. In addition, the Bureau provides detailed information to state osteopathic associations and specialty colleges on issues affecting the profession. The Bureau also has the obligation to deliberate and recommend new policy and policy revisions on state issues for consideration by the AOA Board of Trustees and the AOA House of Delegates.”<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Dr. Giaimo and the Bureau’s Workgroup are currently  seeking input on the topic of telemedicine.  The Bureau is looking at how telemedicine is operating now - as well as how it might evolve – so that they can amend AOA policy to account for potential changes.  Fellows could be a key resource in providing research into telemedicine so that the Bureau can make recommendations about appropriate changes in policy. <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Some of the topics they are interested in learning more about include the following:<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>Proposed state legislation that would impact telemedicine<o:p></o:p><![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>State laws regulating telemedicine<o:p></o:p><![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>Licensing requirements for telemedicine and reciprocal agreement between states<o:p></o:p><![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>Definition of key terms:  for example,  does ‘face-to-face’ mean being in the same physical space or visual contact via video?<o:p></o:p><![if !supportLists]>·         <![endif]>What providers are doing to expand access via telemedicine (beyond legislative efforts).<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>(Note:  the topic includes telemedicine in the US – not international telemedicine).<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>This is a great opportunity to serve as a resource on key policy issues.  Fellows who agree to research the telemedicine issue would present their findings in July 2012 in Chicago in conjunction with the AOA House of Delegates meeting (teleconference is an option). <o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Please respond to me,  Joe (<a href="mailto:giaimoj@comcast.net">giaimoj@comcast.net</a>) and/or Nick Schilligo  (<a href="mailto:nschilligo@osteopathic.org">nschilligo@osteopathic.org</a>) if you are interested in providing research on this topic.  Thanks.  NC<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p>Nancy Cooper, Coordinator<o:p></o:p>Health Policy Fellowship<o:p></o:p>307 Grosvenor Hall<o:p></o:p>Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine<o:p></o:p>Athens, Ohio  45701<o:p></o:p>Office (740) 593-2017<o:p></o:p>Cell (740) 707-8425<o:p></o:p>Fax (740) 593-1730<o:p></o:p>coopern@ohio.edu<o:p></o:p><o:p> </o:p><o:p> </o:p></div></body></html>

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