At its January 26 open meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will consider an order and further notice of proposed rulemaking (FNPRM) to amend the rules of the Rural Health Care Program, which includes the...more
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has again extended a waiver of its previously issued rules relating to the establishment of urban and rural rates for health care and telecommunication service providers seeking...more
The FCC is requesting public comment on proposed reforms to the Rural Health Care Program to “promote program efficiency and ensure that rural healthcare providers receive appropriate levels of funding.” Initial Comments...more
Kelley Drye is proud to present our 12th Annual Update on federal Universal Service Fund (USF) developments. Please join us on March 22, 2021 for Kelley Drye’s annual webinar discussing the state of the federal Universal...more
Access to health care services in rural or other underserved communities across Ohio has long been a priority for both health care providers and for local community leaders. Some communities have solved the gap in service by...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has long acknowledged the disparities in care and outcomes affecting the one in five Americans who live in rural areas, as well as the financial challenges faced by rural...more
Rural Health Task Force presents report to health committee - The Rural Health Services Task Force presented its report to the House Health Care Committee on Tuesday. Green Mountain Care Board member and Task Force Chair...more
DVHA presents budget adjustment proposal - The House Health Care Committee heard from Department of Vermont Health Access Commissioner Cory Gustafson on Tuesday on his department’s 2020 budget adjustment. ...more
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2019. A summary produced by that bipartisan group is attached....more
A recently passed Florida law, Florida Statutes 542.336 seeks to prevent medical providers from using restrictive covenants to monopolize medical specialties in rural counties. The law bars the enforcement of “restrictive...more
At its August 2019 meeting, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order modernizing its Rural Healthcare (RHC) universal service programs—the Telecommunications Program and the Healthcare Connect...more
Coming on the heels of the FCC’s recently proposed $100 million Connected Care Program to fund telehealth-based connections between healthcare providers and patients, and continuing its recognition of the critical role...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took another step closer to establishing a three-year, $100 million Connected Care Pilot program following review of public comments on its prior Notice of Inquiry that previewed...more
On June 25, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took steps to raise the annual funding cap for the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, which provides funds to rural, public and non-profit...more
Last week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released its first Rural Health Strategy. The strategy is intended to improve the agency’s service to individuals living in rural areas....more
On December 14, the FCC adopted, with bipartisan support, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Order (“NPRM”) to provide a measure of financial relief to rural health care providers who will be impacted by the pending...more
At its last open meeting in 2017, the five FCC Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and Order regarding the Commission’s Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, a 20-year old initiative...more
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching a major revision to its Rural Health Care (“RHC”) subsidy programs. These revisions would address two main issues, the level of funding and ways to make the programs...more
In the first action of its kind, on June 7, 2017, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) issued an amendment to a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture and Order (“NAL”), for alleged violations of the rules...more
On May 10, Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation sent a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and USAC CEO Chris Henderson requesting...more
This article will provide an outline of some of the most significant points for hospitals to use when confronted with a formal government investigation under the Criminal or Civil False Claims Act. As noted below, you should...more
Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and co-sponsors Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS), Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), and Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT) announced, on July 7, 2015, the introduction of the Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2015,...more
In November 2014, the federal government’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) program awarded over $10 million in grants to support telemedicine and rural health research. The list of 65 DLT grant recipients included...more
The federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) recently released its updated list of counties and census tracts that are designated as “rural” based on 2010 U.S. Census data and the Rural Urban Commuting Area Code (RUCA)...more
The Wireline Competition Bureau is seeking comment on a petition filed by the United States Telecom Association (USTelecom) for reconsideration and clarification of the FCC’s recent Rural Health Care Support Mechanism Order....more