; (ii) medical, technological, and communications capabilities of such initiatives; (iii) functionality of such initiatives; and (iv) capacity and ability of such initiatives to handle increased volume during the response to a public health emergency; (B) identify methods to expand and interconnect the State and regional health information networks funded by the Secretary, the State and regional broadband networks funded by the Federal Communications Commission, including such networks supported by the rural health care support mechanism pilot program, and other telehealth networks; (C) evaluate ways to prepare for, monitor, respond rapidly to, or manage the events of, a public health emergency through the enhanced use of telehealth technologies, including— (i) mechanisms for payment or reimbursement for use of such technologies and personnel during public health emergencies; (ii) the use of telehealth technologies and services by health care providers in recent public health emergencies; (iii) ways in which States used telehealth technologies and services in State responses to public health emergencies; and (iv) infrastructure and resource needs to ensure providers have the necessary tools, training, and technical assistance to provide telehealth services; (D) identify methods for reducing legal barriers that deter health care professionals from providing telehealth services, such as by utilizing State emergency health care professional credentialing verification systems, encouraging States to establish and implement mechanisms to improve interstate medical licensure cooperation, facilitating the exchange of information among States regarding investigations and adverse actions, and encouraging States to waive the application of licensing requirements during a public health emergency; (E) evaluate ways to integrate the practice of telehealth within the National Disaster Medical System or any recent actions taken related to such integration