On April 8, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released guidance on the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
As appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide $200 million to expand telehealth services as the nation combats the current public health crisis. “The toll this pandemic is taking on our healthcare system is clear. To the extent that connectivity solutions can provide immediate assistance with remote care and monitoring, we should use them. There is already evidence across the country that this works,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement accompanying the April 2, 2020 FCC order approving the program.
The FCC explains: “The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will provide immediate support to eligible health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by fully funding their telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide critical connected care services until the program’s funds have been expended or the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.”
Eligible health care providers include:
- Medical schools and teaching hospitals;
- Community health centers and migrant care centers;
- Local health agencies and departments;
- Community mental health centers;
- Not-for-profit hospitals;
- Rural health clinics; and
- Skilled nursing facilities (e.g. long term care facilities).
Awards will be based on the estimated costs of the supported services and connected devices the applicant intends to purchase, as described in each health care provider’s respective application. The FCC has indicated that it does not anticipate awarding more than $1 million in funding per applicant.
Funds will be awarded on a rolling basis, and the FCC has indicated that weight will be given to services that target areas that have been hardest hit by COVID-19 and where the support will have the most impact on addressing the health care needs. The FCC plans to announce the application acceptance date shortly; in the meantime, the FCC recommends that interested providers immediately:
- obtain an eligibility determination from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC);
- obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN); and
- register with System for Award Management.
Detailed information about each of these steps can be found in the FCC’s guidance.
Stay up to date by monitoring the latest COVID-19 resources on our CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE CENTER.
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