Minnesota Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity: Technical Advisory Group

MDH convened a group of subject matter experts as a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Minnesota Study of Telehealth Expansion and Payment Parity. The TAG provided strategic and technical advice to MDH as it studied the impact of telehealth policies on Minnesotans through a lens of quality, access, and affordability, with special attention to the impacts on Minnesota’s communities of color, the disabled community, and on rural residents.

The TAG was comprised of members who represent perspectives of Minnesota health care users, providers, payers, and researchers.

Role of the TAG

The TAG provided input to MDH and its contractors on the design and analysis of the telehealth study. TAG members were asked to lend their expertise on topics, including research questions, study design and materials, interpreting findings, and final recommendations.

Review the TAG Charter (PDF) for more information.

TAG members

• Sue Abderholden, MPH—Executive Director
  • NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Jean Abraham, PhD—Professor and Interim Division Head-Division of Health Policy and Management
  • University of Minnesota—School of Public Health
• Karen Amezcua—Sr. Director of Provider Partnerships
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
• Barbara Andreasen—Telehealth and Regional Development Director
  • Allina Health
• Alicia Bauman, MBA—Vice President of Community & Population Health
  • Lakewood Health System 
• Leo Bay, DO FAAFP—Family Medicine/Physician Informatics
  • Essentia Health
• Bentley Graves—Director of Health Care and Transportation Policy
  • Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
• Ryan Jelinek, DO—Medical Director of Telemedicine and Access
  • Hennepin Healthcare
• Cara McNulty, DPA—President of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being
  • CVS Health/Aetna
• Jonathan Neufeld, PhD—Program Director & Principal Investigator
  • Great Plains Telehealth Resource & Assistance Center (gpTRAC)
  • Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota
• Carrie Suplick Benton, MPH, MPP—Senior Health Care Analyst
  • Management and Budget, SEGIP

TAG meetings