The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is offering two programs, COVID-19 Telehealth and Connected Care Pilot, that will provide up to $300 million in funding to eligible health care providers to defray qualifying costs of providing telehealth.
COVID-19 Telehealth Program
The FCC is now accepting applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The program will provide $200 million in funding to support eligible health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic purchase telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to enable the provision of telemedicine services during this emergency period. It will provide selected applicants with full funding for these eligible telehealth services and devices. In order to receive funding, eligible health care providers must submit an application to the FCC for this program. The FCC will award funds to selected applicants on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted or until the current pandemic has ended.
Connected Care Pilot Program
The Connected Care (CC) Pilot Program is a three-year Pilot Program that will provide universal service support to help defray health care providers’ qualifying costs of providing connected care services. It will target funding to eligible health care providers, with a primary focus on pilot projects that primarily benefit low-income or veteran patients. The Pilot Program will make available up to $100 million, which is separate from the budgets of the existing Universal Service Fund (USF) programs and the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The CC Pilot Program will provide funding for selected pilot projects to cover 85% of the eligible costs of broadband connectivity, network equipment, and information services necessary to provide connected care services to the intended patient population. The Universal Service Administration (USAC) will determine eligibility for the program using the existing FCC Form 460. Participants can be located in rural and non-rural areas, but must meet the other RHC Program eligibility requirements. Eligible health care providers can then submit applications for the CC Pilot Program. For questions about the Connected Care Pilot Program, contact [email protected].
