DA 22-805

Released:  July 29, 2022

WC Docket No. 20-89

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) extends two deadlines for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (COVID-19 Program).  First, in response to recent requests from awardees, we extend the deadline for funding recipients to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services from July 31, 2022, to October 31, 2022.[1]  We also necessarily extend the deadline for submitting invoices for reimbursement by three months.[2]

              In order to build off the success of Round 1 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, Congress, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, appropriated $249.95 million to the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) for Round 2 of the Program.[3]  The Commission issued funding awards for 446 applications between August 26, 2021, and January 26, 2022, awarding more than $256 million in funding.[4] 

Round 2 funding recipients were given a July 31, 2022, deadline to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services (purchase/implementation deadline).[5]  To date, the Bureau has received multiple requests to extend this deadline.  Participants requesting more time have cited a variety of reasons, including supply-chain delays and discontinuities, staff absences due to COVID, and challenges with state government purchasing regulations.[6]  In addition, during Round 1, the initial deadline for purchasing and implementation of services was extended similarly.[7]  For these reasons, the Bureau extends the purchase and implementation deadline to October 31, 2022.  Next, the Round 2 rules permit program participants to be reimbursed for twelve months of recurring services, so shifting the purchase and implementation deadline by three months may also affect the time participants have to start, incur, and be reimbursed for the full year of services.  In light of the fact that the invoicing deadline could be impacted by the change to the purchase and implementation deadline, we also adjust the invoicing deadline and extend it by three months.  Finally, while the Bureau extends the purchase/implementation deadline, we encourage COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding recipients to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services as soon as practicable.

Additional Information.  For assistance, all program participants are encouraged to email Round2TelehlthInvoicSupp@fcc.gov.  For special situations or to resolve ambiguous issues, please contact Clinton Highfill, Attorney-Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, clinton.highfill@fcc.gov or (202) 418-0091.  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are posted at the Commission’s website for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, www.fcc.gov/covid19telehealth.

-FCC-

[1] The new purchasing/implementation deadline supersedes the previous announcement in Wireline Competition Bureau Announces A Purchase and Implementation Deadline of July 31, 2022 For Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, DA 22-260 (WCB Mar. 11, 2022) (Round 2 Purchase Deadline Public Notice).

[2] The new invoicing deadline supersedes the previous announcement in Wireline Competition Bureau and Office of Managing Director Set July 31, 2023 Invoicing Deadline for COVID-19 Telehealth Program Round 2 and Provide Post-Program Guidance,WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, DA 22-582 (WCB May 25, 2022).

[3] Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No:  116-260, Division N-Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief, Title IX-Broadband Internet Access Service, § 903 “FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program” (2020), available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021).

[4] See Wireline Competition Bureau Approves Sixth and Final Group of Funding Awards in Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, DA 22-88 (WCB Jan. 26, 2022).

[5] Round 2 Purchase Deadline Public Notice at *1.

[6] See E-mail from Jim Towler, Office of the CIO, Novant Health, to Clinton Highfill, Attorney-Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau (July 26, 2022) (explaining that recent COVID cases have created staffing constraints and also challenges scheduling vendors); E-mail from Kevin Welch, CEO, Kau Hospital and Rural Clinic, to Clinton Highfill (July 21, 2022) (explaining that COVID-19 cases have increased down time for vital technical staff); E-mail from Christina Higa, Co-Director, Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center, to Clinton Highfill (July 20, 2022) (explaining that vendors need more lead time to obtain clearances required to transact business with a State of Hawaii entity).

[7] Wireline Competition Bureau Extends the COVID-19 Telehealth Program September 30, 2020 Purchase and Implementation Deadline, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, DA 20-1139 (WCB Sept. 28, 2020).

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USDA is providing $43 million in new funds to rural healthcare providers, many of whom have earmarked the funds to implement and support telehealth services.

By Anuja Vaidya

April 19, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding $43 million to support rural healthcare providers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and many plan to use the funds to expand telehealth capabilities.

The Emergency Rural Health Care Grants were made available through the American Rescue Plan Act. In total, $475 million in grants have been earmarked to support rural hospitals and providers. In this round of funding, $43 million will be provided to 93 rural healthcare organizations and community groups across 22 states.

“USDA used an all-hands-on-deck approach to create the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants program to address a variety of immediate healthcare needs and services in rural communities,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack in the press release.

Several grant awardees plan to use the funds to implement and enhance telehealth services. For example, Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, Kansas, which is receiving $434,300, plans to use some of the funds to purchase and install telehealth infrastructure and upgrade information systems.

Another provider organization, Appleton Area Health in Minnesota, is planning to use part of its $174,300 grant to upgrade its telemedicine capabilities and replace hospital equipment. It also plans to install 28 flat-panel television monitors with cameras in clinic exam rooms and patient rooms.

McAlester Regional Healthcare Authority in Oklahoma, which is slated to receive $71,300, will use part of the money to implement a telehealth program at McAlester Regional Hospital. The organization plans to purchase 127 computers and hire a trainer/coordinator.

In addition to telehealth, rural providers will use the funds to increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, establish nutrition assistance programs, and build or renovate facilities.

The next round of Emergency Rural Health Care Grants funding will be announced later this year.

Research shows that people living in rural areas were less likely to use telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some reporting lower telehealth availability than those who lived in urban areas.

One likely reason for this is the lack of access to broadband in many parts of the US. One estimate shows that at least 42 million Americans lacked access to terrestrial broadband internet in 2021.

Another probable reason for the lack of telehealth availability is that rural healthcare providers are in a precarious position, operationally and financially. Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, 21 hospitals have closed in the US, and 40 percent of rural hospital operating margins are in the red, according to The Chartis Center for Rural Health.

A viewpoint article published in JAMA Health Forum last year pointed out some hurdles to telehealth adoption among rural providers. The authors cited lack of adequate cash flow, low patient volumes, and the telehealth reimbursement structure among the barriers.

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Sixteen new projects have been selected to receive the funding in the last round of the program established in 2020 to support the advancement of connected care.

By Anuja Vaidya

March 23, 2022 – The Federal Communications Commission has selected 16 new Connected Care Pilot Program projects to receive $29.7 million in funding.

This is the fourth and final set of approved projects under the Connected Care Pilot Program, which was launched in 2020 to help cover costs of broadband connectivity, network equipment, and information services for projects that provide telehealth and connected care services. The program was set up to provide up to $100 million over three years to selected applicants.

The FCC announced its first group of program awardees in January 2021 and, along with the most recent round, is set to fund 107 projects serving patients in 40 states and Washington, D.C.

“Telemedicine has moved into the mainstream. It is now an essential part of healthcare in rural communities, urban communities, and everything in between,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement. “These pandemic days have proven it.”

The final round includes projects that aim to address several health conditions, such as high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, mental health conditions, opioid dependency, and COVID-19.

“On a personal level, I’m especially pleased that efforts to address maternal health and high-risk pregnancy are the focus of several of our awardees,” Rosenworcel said. “We are the only industrialized nation with a rising level of maternal mortality. That’s unacceptable in every way…My goodness, we need to do better. So, I’m glad that in several locations, including Virginia, Hawaii, Delaware, Alaska, and South Carolina, we have been able to use this program to support connected care for pregnancy monitoring and maternal health.”

Several organizations are seeking more than $1 million in new funds, including Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is seeking $9.4 million, Palmetto State Providers Network, a consortium with 34 sites in South Carolina, which is asking for $7.1 million, and New England Telehealth Consortium, with 11 locations in New Hampshire and Maine, which is seeking $2.5 million.

Though this is the last round of awards through the Connected Care Pilot Program, the FCC will continue its efforts by studying the award recipients in the program, the connections they used, and how they helped facilitate care, Rosenworcel said. Next year, the agency plans to produce a report on initial lessons learned through the connected care and COVID-19 telehealth programs.

The COVID-19 Telehealth Program, initially launched as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020, aims to help providers offer connected care services to patients in their homes or at mobile locations in response to the public health emergency. The FCC relaunched the program in March 2021, and recently completed its sixth and final phase of funding through the program, providing $48 million to 100 healthcare providers.

The FCC is also supporting broadband deployments through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund to boost access to internet connectivity, which will expand access to virtual care. The agency recently approved more than $640 million in new funds for broadband carriers in 26 states.

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Program Will Support Connected Care Services Across Country, Focus on Low-Income and Veteran Patients

  —

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2022—Today, the Federal Communications Commission announced its fourth and final set of approved Connected Care Pilot Program projects.  These 16 projects were approved for a total of $29,752,601 in funding.  With the newly selected projects, the Connected Care Pilot Program is set to fund 107 projects serving patients in 40 states plus Washington, D.C. 

Today’s action also sets a uniform deadline for all participants to file their initial funding request by September 16, 2022.

Telehealth has assumed an increasingly critical role in health care delivery, enabling patients to access health care services without needing to visit a health care provider’s medical office. Among other benefits, connected care services, delivered via a broadband internet access connection directly to the patient’s home or mobile location, also can help contain and treat health conditions during public health emergencies, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Pilot Program will make available funds from the Universal Service Fund over a three-year period for selected pilot projects to help defray the costs of providing certain telehealth services for eligible health care providers, with a particular emphasis on providing connected care services to low-income and veteran patients. 

The additional projects selected today will address a number of critical health conditions such as high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, mental health conditions, opioid dependency, COVID-19, and chronic conditions.  Funding these projects will help bring connected care services to rural and other underserved areas nationwide and will also help the Commission learn more about how Universal Service Fund support can enable providers to use connected care to help improve health outcomes.

• Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA.  Boston Medical Center seeks $446,250 in Connected Care support to provide video visits or consults, remote treatment, and remote patient monitoring to low-income patients who are suffering from chronic/long-term conditions and mental health conditions.  Boston Medical Center would serve approximately 1,500 patients, 85% of whom would be low-income.  Boston Medical Center was selected because of its potential impact on this low-income patient population.
   
• Boston’s Community Medical Group, Inc., Boston, MA.  Boston’s Community Medical Group, Inc., seeks $918,000 in Connected Care support to deploy a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform to serve its 22,000 low-income patients across Massachusetts with primary care and wrap-around services.  Patients to be served are eligible for both Medicare and state Medicaid-supported services, with many having a physical or behavioral disability, a severe mental illness, or substance-use disorder.  Boston’s Community Medical Group’s proposal was chosen because of its potential impact on rural and medically underserved areas and its focus on high-need, low-income populations.  
  
  
• Children’s Hospital of Denver, Aurora, CO.  Children’s Hospital of Denver would use $824,096 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and treatment services to low-income patients under 21 years of age suffering from medically complex conditions.  Children’s Hospital would serve an estimated 200 patients in Wyoming and Colorado, 100% of whom are low-income.  Children’s Hospital of Denver was selected because of its potential impact on low-income children with medically complex conditions in Colorado and surrounding rural areas.
  
  
• Christiana Care Health Services, Newark, DE.  Christiana Care Health Services’ Pilot project would use $3,253,627 in Connected Care support to provide prenatal remote patient monitoring and telehealth visits to primarily low-income patients.  Christiana Care Health Services’ Pilot project would serve an estimated 5,000 patients in Delaware, 80% of whom would be low-income.  Christiana Care Health Services was selected because of its focus on maternal health for low-income patients. 
  
  
• Community Guidance Center – Indiana Location C19, Indiana, PA.  Community Guidance Center would use $154,530 in Connected Care support to provide teletherapy services to low-income and veteran patients in western Pennsylvania.  This Pilot project will focus on providing mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual disability treatment services to 150 patients.  Community Guidance Center’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on expanding access to mental health services to low-income patients residing in rural areas.
  
  
• Community Health Center, Inc. (CHCI), Middletown, CT.  Community Health Center, Inc., is a consortium with 30 different sites across Connecticut.  CHCI seeks $1,093,398 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and video consults to low-income and veteran patients with complex, chronic conditions such as hypertension, mental health disorders, obesity, opioid dependency, and HIV, often compounded by adverse social determinants of health such as homelessness.  CHCI would treat an estimated 15,000 patients, more than 80% of whom would be low-income and approximately 5% of whom would be veterans.  Community Health Center, Inc. was selected because of its potential impact on low-income and veteran patients across multiple communities.
   
• Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments (Yukon Flats Health Center), Fort Yukon, AK.  Through its Pilot project, Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments (Yukon Flats Health Center) seeks $1,124,486 in Connected Care support to provide patient-based, internet-connected remote monitoring, other monitoring, video visits, imaging diagnostics, remote treatment, and other services for veterans and low-income patients with chronic conditions, high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, infectious diseases like COVID-19, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency.  This Pilot project would reach an estimated 5,588 patients, 95% of whom would be low-income and 5% of whom would be veterans.  This project was chosen because of  its potential impact on low-income and veteran patients in a rural region in Alaska.
  
  
• Golden Valley Health Centers, Merced, CA.  Golden Valley Health Centers’ Pilot project would use $725,195 in Connected Care support to provide patient-based internet-connected remote monitoring, other monitoring, video visits or consults, and imaging diagnostics primarily to low-income patients suffering from chronic or long-term conditions, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency.  Golden Valley Health Centers’ Pilot project would provide connected care services to 70,000 patients in California, nearly all of them low-income.  Golden Valley Health Centers was selected because it would serve a large number of low-income patients.
  
  
• Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc., Brandywine, MD.  Greater Baden Medical Services, Inc., seeks $406,249 in Connected Care support to provide patient-based, internet-connected, remote monitoring, video visits, and remote treatment for veterans and low-income patients whose needs include chronic or long-term conditions, high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, infectious diseases like COVID-19, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency.  Greater Baden Medical Services’ Pilot project would reach an estimated 5,400 patients across Maryland, 35% of whom would be low-income and 20% of whom may be veterans.  Greater Baden Medical Services was selected because of its potential impact on the low-income and veteran populations that it serves. 
  
  
• MUSC Medical Center, Charleston, SC.  MUSC Medical Center’s Pilot project seeks $246,347 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and video visits to treat patients for maternal health, chronic conditions, mental health issues, opioid dependency, and infectious diseases.  MUSC Medical Center’s pilot project would reach an estimated 3,500 patients, 25% of whom would be low-income patients.  MUSC Medical Center was selected because of its focus on expanding connected care services, with a specific focus on maternal health and chronic conditions. 
  
  
• New England Telehealth Consortium, Inc., a consortium with a site in North Conway, NH, and 10 sites in Maine.  New England Telehealth Consortium seeks $2,560,098 in Connected Care funding to connect patients directly into its existing consortium network for purposes of receiving connected care services.  The Pilot project would serve 1,872 patients, 20% of whom would be low-income patients and 11% of whom would be veterans.  New England Telehealth Consortium was selected because of its potential impact on these patient groups and its commitment to address maternal health, chronic and long-term conditions, infectious diseases, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency. 
  
  
• Northern Nevada HOPES, Reno, NV.  Northern Nevada HOPES’ Pilot project seeks $331,884 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring services and virtual visits to low-income patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, diabetes, opioid dependency, heart disease, and hypertension.  Northern Nevada HOPES’ Pilot project would serve an estimated 180 patients, nearly all of whom would be low-income.  Northern Nevada HOPES was selected because of its focus on providing broadband to patients residing in transitional housing intended to relieve homelessness. 
  
  
• Palmetto State Providers Network, a consortium with 34 sites in South Carolina.  Palmetto State Providers Network’s Pilot project would use $7,192,893 in Connected Care support to provide remote monitoring and video consults to primarily low-income patients suffering from chronic conditions and infectious diseases.  Palmetto State Providers Network’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 18,000 patients at six locations, of whom 80% are low-income.  Palmetto State Providers Network was selected because of its provision of broadband to a large number of low-income patients.
  
  
• Tower Health – Reading Hospital, West Reading, PA.  Tower Health – Reading Hospital’s Pilot project seeks $396,457 in Connected Care support to provide patient broadband and connected care services for low-income residents of transitional housing.  Tower Health – Reading Hospital’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 169 patients, nearly all whom would be low-income and 15% of whom would be veterans.  Tower Health’s project was selected because of its provision of broadband to low-income and veteran patients and potential impact on these populations.
  
  
• University Hospital, Newark, NJ.  University Hospital seeks $627,300 for telehealth platforms, including an integrated telehealth platform, to facilitate virtual visits and remote patient monitoring to treat patients with chronic and long-term conditions, as well as COVID-19.  University Hospital would serve 80,000 patients in Newark, approximately 29.7% of whom are low-income or veteran patients.  University Hospital was selected because it has significant telehealth experience and is the only state-owned acute healthcare facility in Newark New Jersey’s Central Ward, with a service area that includes medically underserved areas. 
  
  
• Willis-Knighton Health System, Shreveport, LA.  Willis-Knighton Health System seeks $9,451,791 in Pilot Program funding for patient broadband and to expand remote patient monitoring and video visits and consults to treat patients for chronic conditions (including diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, mental health conditions, opioid dependency and infectious diseases.  Willis Knighton Health System’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 12,554 patients, approximately 57% of whom would be low-income or veterans, in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, including rural and medically underserved areas.  Willis Knighton Health System’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on expanding access to connected care services and addressing broadband connectivity barriers for low-income and veteran patients, including in rural and underserved areas.

To learn more about the FCC’s Connected Care Pilot Program, visit https://www.fcc.gov/wireline-competition/telecommunications-access-policy-division/connected-care-pilot-program.

Action by the Commission March 16, 2022 by Public Notice (FCC 22-23).  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing separate statements.

WC Docket No. 18-213

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COVID-19 Telehealth Program

Federal Communications Commission   DA 22-260

DA 22-260
Released: March 11, 2022

WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU ANNOUNCES A PURCHASE AND IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE OF JULY 31, 2022 FOR ROUND 2 OF THE
COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM

WC Docket No. 20-89

By this Public Notice, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) sets July 31, 2022, as the deadline for Round 2 COVID-19 Telehealth Program (COVID-19 Program) funding recipients to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services. A purchase and implementation deadline is necessary for efficient Program administration, as it ensures that Program funds are used in a timely fashion, and it will allow for a subsequent invoicing deadline, which will be announced at a later date.
In order to build off of the success of Round 1 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, Congress, as part of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act, appropriated $249.95 million to the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) for Round 2 of the Program. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Pub. L. No: 116-260, Division N-Additional Coronavirus Response and Relief, Title IX-Broadband Internet Access Service, § 903 “FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program” (2020), available at https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/133/text (Consolidated Appropriations Act).
The Commission issued funding awards for 447 applications between August 26, 2021 and January 26, 2022, awarding over $256 million in funding. See Wireline Competition Bureau Approves Sixth and Final Group of Funding Awards in Round 2 of COVID-19 Telehealth Program, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, DA 22-88 (WCB Jan. 26, 2022).

During Round 1 of the Program, the final funding commitments were issued on July 8, 2020, Federal Communications Commission, Press Release, FCC Approves Final Set of Covid-19 Telehealth Program
Applications (July 8, 2020), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-365417A1.pdf.
and the purchase and implementation deadline was initially set as September 30, 2020. Before the September 30, 2020 deadline, the Bureau received numerous requests for an extension of that deadline and eventually set the final purchase and implementation deadline for December 31, 2020. See Wireline Competition Bureau Extends the COVID-19 Telehealth Program September 30, 2020 Purchase and Implementation Deadline, WC Docket No. 20-89, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 10580 (WCB 2020).
As a result, during Round 1 all awardees had, at a minimum, just under six months from the notice of their awards to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services. We believe that a similar time frame should apply for Round 2 of the Program, as evidenced by the numerous extension requests we received from Round 1 awardees. Accordingly, we set a deadline of July 31, 2022 to ensure that all Round 2 awardees will have sufficient time to utilize Program funds to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services. While the Bureau sets the purchase/implementation deadline of July 31, 2022, we encourage COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding recipients to purchase eligible devices and implement eligible services lists as soon as practicable.
Additional Information. For further information regarding this Public Notice, please contact Nathan Eagan, Attorney-Advisor, Telecommunications Access Policy Division, Wireline Competition Bureau, Nathan.Eagan@fcc.gov or (202) 418-0991.
-FCC-

2

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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 Due: 30 days after publication in the Federal Register
Reply Comments Due: 60 days after publication in the Federal Register

Background

The Rural Health Care Program provides funding to eligible health care providers for telecommunications and broadband services necessary for the provision of health care. 

As explained by the FCC, such funding is critical in light of the recent “explosion in demand for telehealth services, a trend accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, that has increased the bandwidth needs of rural health care providers. Reliable high speed connectivity is critical for rural health care providers to serve patients in rural areas that often have limited resources, fewer doctors, and higher rates for broadband and telecommunications services than urban areas.”

The Rural Health Care Program consists of two programs: (1) the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program; and (2) the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program.

Eligible health care providers include: (1) post-secondary educational institutions offering health care instruction, teaching hospitals, and medical schools; (2) community health centers or health centers providing health care to migrants; (3) local health departments or agencies; (4) community mental health centers; (5) not-for-profit hospitals; (6) rural health clinics; (7) skilled nursing facilities and (8) health care consortia.

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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth servic es. Telehealth is an essential tool in ensuring patients are able to access the healthcare services they need in as safe a manner as possible. In order to provide our clients with quick and actionable guidance on the evolving telehealth landscape, Manatt Health has developed a federal and comprehensive 50-state tracker for policy, regulatory and legal changes related to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is the executive summary, which outlines federal developments from the past two weeks, new state-level developments, and older federal developments. The full tracker with details for each state is available through Manatt on Health, Manatt Health’s premium subscription service. 

New Federal Developments

New State-Level Developments

Note: As indicated in the table below, several states have recently taken action to update, continue, or renew their state of emergencies for COVID-19 in response to the rise of new cases linked with the Omicron variant. These updates are highlighted below because in many states, temporary telehealth flexibilities are tied to the status of state of emergency declarations.

Payment Parity Permanent State Laws and Statutes

Payment Parity requires that health care providers are reimbursed the same amount for telehealth visits as in-person visits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states implemented temporary payment parity through the end of the public health emergency. Now, many states are implementing payment parity on a permanent basis. As portrayed in Figure 1, as of February 2022, 19 states have implemented policies requiring payment parity, 4 states have payment parity in place with caveats, and 27 states have no payment parity.

_{Figure 1. Map of States With Laws Requiring Insurers to Implement Payment Parity (as of Febuary 2022)}

Federal Developments More than Two Weeks Old

Executive Branch Activity

Legislative Activity

Relevant Telehealth Data and Reports

In February 2022, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation released an issue brief titled “National Survey Trends in Telehealth Use in 2021: Disparities in Utilization and Audio vs. Video Services,” which compared differences in telehealth access for audio-only and video visits between April and October 2021. While overall telehealth utilization was similar across demographic groups, except among the uninsured, there were significant differences in video telehealth use. Rates of video telehealth use were lowest among Latino, Asian and Black individuals, those without a high school degree and adults ages 65 and older.

In October 2021, the HHS-OIG released a data snapshot report titled “Most Medicare beneficiaries received telehealth services only from providers with whom they had an established relationship,” which evaluated the relationship between providers and Medicare patients utilizing telehealth between March and December 2020. Notably, the data snapshot found that 84% of Medicare beneficiaries received telehealth services only from providers with whom they had an established relationship.

In October 2021, JAMA published an study titled “Changes in Virtual and In-Person Health Care Utilization in a Large Health System During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” which sought to assess the association between the growth of virtual care and health care utilization in an integrated delivery network. The study found that while COVID-19 caused in-person visits to decline and virtual services to increase, there was no significant change in the overall volume of healthcare utilization, suggesting that virtual care was substitutive, rather than additive in the ambulatory care setting.

In September 2021, the HHS-OIG released two telehealth reports “States Reported Multiple Challenges With Using Telehealth To Provide Behavioral Health Services to Medicaid Enrollees” and “Opportunities Exist To Strengthen Evaluation and Oversight of Telehealth for Behavioral Health in Medicaid” based on surveys conducted in early 2020. The surveys focused around telemental health delivery though managed care organizations.

In July 2021, AAMC in in partnership with Manatt Health published “Sustaining Telehealth Success: Integration Imperatives and Best Practices for Advancing Telehealth in Academic Health Systems”, conducting extensive interviews with many leading telehealth AMCs across the country (Ochsner, VA, Kaiser, MUSC, UMMC, Intermountain, Jefferson, etc.) and synthesizing best practices through this report.

In July 2021, The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) published “Telehealth During COVID-19 Ensured Patients Were Not Left Behind,” which explores how health centers have utilized telehealth and the implications for health center patients should the PHE flexibilities not be extended. 

In June 2021, the Lucile Packard foundation published “COVID-19 Policy Flexibilities Affecting
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs” to identify key flexibilities enacted during the PHE related to children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and summarize stakeholders’ perspectives about the impact of policy flexibilities on CYSHCN and their families and providers.

In June 2021, the Commonwealth Fund published “States’ Actions to Expand Telemedicine Access During COVID-19 and Future Policy Considerations,” which examined state actions to expand individual and group health insurance coverage of telemedicine between March 2020 and March 2021 in order to better understand the changing regulatory approach to telemedicine in response to COVID-19.. Notably, the report found that twenty-two states “changed laws or policies during the pandemic to require more robust insurance coverage of telemedicine.” Three policy flexibilities that states focused on included: requiring coverage of audio-only services; requiring payment parity between in-person and telemedicine services; and, waiving cost sharing for telemedicine or requiring cost sharing equal to in-person care.

In June 2021, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health and Services Administration (SAMHSA) released “Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders,” a guide supporting the implementation of telehealth across diverse mental health and substance use disorder treatment settings. The guide examines the current telehealth landscape and includes guidance and resources for evaluating and implementing best practices that will continue to assist treatment providers and organizations seeking to increase access to mental health services via telehealth.

In May 2021, the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) released “States Expand Medicaid Reimbursement of School-Based Telehealth Services” exploring how states are increasing Medicaid coverage of school-based telehealth services during COVID-19, determining which services can effectively be delivered through telehealth, and supporting equitable access to telehealth services for students.

In May 2021, the Kaiser Family Foundation published “Medicare and Telehealth: Coverage and Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Options for the Future” analyzing Medicare beneficiaries’ utilization of telehealth using CMS survey data between summer and fall of 2020.

In May 2021, the American Medical Association in partnership with Manatt Health published “Return on Health: Moving Beyond Dollars and Cents in Realizing the Value of Virtual Care”  to articulate the value of digitally enabled care that accounts for ways in which a wide range of virtual care programs can increase the overall health and generate positive impact for patients, clinicians, payors and society.

In March 2021, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published “In-Person and Telehealth Ambulatory Contacts and Costs in a Large US Insured Cohort Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” highlighting existing disparities related to the digital divide.

FAIR Health publishes a Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker to track how telehealth is evolving comparing telehealth: volume of claim lines, urban versus rural usage, the top five procedure codes, and the top five diagnoses.

In February 2021, the Commonwealth Fund published “The Impact of COVID-19 on Outpatient Visits in 2020: Visits Remained Stable, Despite a Late Surge in Cases” tracking trends in outpatient visit volume through the end of 2020 hoping to track what the clinical impacts of the pandemic are and how accessible has outpatient care been, if there are new policies encouraging greater use of telemedicine, and what has been the financial impact of the pandemic on health care providers.

In February 2021, the California Health Care Foundation in partnership with Manatt Health published “Technology Innovation in Medicaid:What to Expect in the Next Decade,” a survey of 200 health care thought leaders in order to learn where health technology in the safety net is expected to go over the next decade.

In February 2021, Health Affairs published “Variation In Telemedicine Use And Outpatient Care During The COVID-19 Pandemic In The United States”, which examined outpatient and telemedicine visits across different patient demographics, specialties, and conditions between January and June 2020. The study found that 30.1% of all visits were provided via telemedicine, and usage was lower in areas with higher rates of poverty.

On December 29, JAMA published an article evaluating whether inequities are present in telemedicine use during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The study found that older patients, Asian patients, and non–English-speaking patients had lower rates of telemedicine use, and older patients, female patients, Black, Latinx, and poorer patients had less video use. The authors conclude that there are inequities that exist and the system must be intentionally designed to mitigate inequity.

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by: Heather Hale

Posted: Jan 3, 2022 / 06:02 PM EST

Updated: Jan 3, 2022 / 06:02 PM EST

HARRISVILLE, W.Va. – The Ritchie Regional Health Center (RRHC) received a Federal Communications Commission Telehealth grant for COVID-19.

The grant is for $960,444 and will be used to buy Telehealth kiosks and remote patient monitoring devices. The monitoring devices will be sent home with chronic patients to monitor things like blood pressure and blood glucose.

The Telehealth kiosks offer a remote general office visit with a professional. The remote visit option caters to those with no transportation and people who are afraid to come in and risk exposure to COVID-19.

“It helps us to connect to those patients who don’t want to come into the office but still need that type of care, so we’re able to reach those patients this way, and we thought that was the best way to use this money. It also helps us to monitor those sickest patients and the most vulnerable, so we can keep ahead of everything that may be going on with them health-wise,” said Amy Yokum, Ritchie Regional Health Center CEO.

The Ritchie Regional Health Center is a federally qualified healthcare center, so they offer services to anyone with a sliding fee scale based on family size and income level. The sliding fee does not apply to pharmacy services.

Services available include medical, dental, x-ray and behavioral health.

RRHC has primary care services at seven facilities across Doddridge, Pleasants, Ritchie and Wood counties.

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Program Will Support Connected Care Services Across Country, Focus on Low-Income and Veteran Patients

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WASHINGTON, October 26, 2021—Today the Federal Communications Commission approved a Public Notice announcing its third set of approved Connected Care Pilot Program projects.  These 36 projects were approved for a total of $15,337,689 in funding.  The newly selected Pilot projects join an additional 57 projects approved earlier this year, bringing the total to over $69.3 million in funding for projects serving patients in 36 states plus Washington, DC. 

Telehealth has assumed an increasingly critical role in health care delivery, enabling patients to access health care services without needing to visit a health care provider’s medical office. Among other benefits, connected care services, delivered via a broadband internet access connection directly to the patient’s home or mobile location, also can help contain and treat health conditions during public health emergencies, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Pilot Program will make available up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund over a three-year period for selected pilot projects to help defray the costs of providing certain telehealth services for eligible health care providers, with a particular emphasis on providing connected care services to low-income and veteran patients. 

The additional projects selected today represent a broad array of geographic areas and a diversity of provider types, involve patients in underserved communities and veteran patients, and will address a range of health conditions.  Funding these projects will help bring connected care services to rural and other underserved areas nationwide and will also help the Commission learn more about how USF support can enable providers to use connected care to help improve health outcomes.

These projects will address a variety of health issues such as maternal health/high-risk pregnancy, COVID-19, other infectious diseases, opioid dependency, mental health conditions, and chronic or recurring conditions:

• Adult MH & SA Outpatient Services, Barrow, AK.  Adult MH & SA Outpatient Services seeks $557,366 in Pilot Program funding to provide connected care service, such as video visits, to patients for various treatments, including treatment for mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders.  Adult MH & SA Outpatient Services estimates serving 9,872 patients, more than 80% of whom are expected to be low-income or veterans.  It is located in Barrow, Alaska, which is an extremely rural area, and its service area includes Healthcare Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Areas.  Adult MH & SA Outpatient Services’ Pilot project was selected because of its focus on expanding the availability of and access to connected care services primarily to low-income patients and veterans in extremely remote, underserved regions in Alaska. 
  
  
• Charles Judd Community Health Center, Honolulu, HI. Charles Judd Community Health Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, seeks $82,535 in Connected Care support to provide a health maintenance program for senior citizens virtually.  Through its Pilot project, Charles Judd Community Health Center would remotely monitor health conditions (including high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer) and monitor mental health, including anxiety and depression, in participating patients.  Charles Judd Community Health Center’s pilot would serve an estimated 300 senior patients, 100% of whom are low-income.  Charles Judd Community Health Center seeks a video platform, hotspots, and internet access to help its patients access its health services virtually.  Charles Judd Community Health Center’s project was selected because of its focus on serving low-income patients, all of whom are senior citizens.  
  
  
• Children with Special Health Needs Branch-State Dept. of Health, Honolulu, HI.  Children with Special Health Needs Branch’s Pilot project would use $316,219 in Connected Care support to provide remote treatments, video visits, and imaging diagnostics services primarily to low-income and veteran patients suffering from chronic conditions and those needing maternal health services.  The Pilot project would reach an estimated 1,000 patients across Hawaii, more than 75% of whom would be veteran or low-income patients. This project was selected because of its potential positive impact on maternal health.
  
  
• Christian Family Solutions – Mankato, MN; Christian Family Solutions – Lakeville, MN; Christian Family Solutions – Waukesha, WI.  Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Service, Inc., d/b/a Christian Family Solutions, filed three separate applications that requested a combined total of $412,666 in Connected Care Pilot Program support.  Christian Family Solutions (CFS) will use the funding to provide patients with mental health services via video visits/consults for telepsychiatry, adult dual diagnosis intensive outpatient programs, outpatient counseling, children’s therapeutic services and support, adolescent DBT skills groups, and adolescent day treatment.  CFS will treat an estimated 1,570 patients, 25% of whom are low-income.  This project was selected because of its focus on mental health services. 
  
  
• Circare, Syracuse, NY.  Circare seeks $133,246 for patient connectivity, network equipment and upgraded bandwidth to provide video visits and remote treatment to patients requiring mental health services.  Circare estimates that its Pilot project will directly impact 100 patients, all of whom are low-income.  Circare was selected because of its focus on low-income patients.
  
  
• Conway Medical, Conway, SC.  Conway Medical’s Pilot project would use $1,018,449 in Connected Care support to provide patient-based video visits, imaging diagnostics, and remote treatment services primarily to low-income patients suffering from chronic or long-term conditions. Conway Medical’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 2,000 patients, 18% of whom are low-income, in Conway, South Carolina.  Conway Medical was selected because of its plan to expand telehealth access to patients residing in rural and underserved areas. 
  
  
• Cooper Health System, Camden, NJ.  Cooper Health System’s Pilot project would use $62,900 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and virtual visits to veteran patients suffering from COVID-19, mental health conditions, diabetes, cancer, and cardiac conditions.  Cooper Health System’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 50 patients, 100% of whom are veterans.  Cooper Health System was selected because of its commitment to serve the local veteran population.
  
  
• Covington County Hospital, Collins, MS.  Covington County Hospital’s Pilot project seeks $162,860 in Connected Care support to provide remote treatment and video visits primarily to low-income patients suffering from chronic conditions, infectious diseases, and opioid dependency.  Covington County Hospital’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 800 patients, 25% of whom would be either low-income or veteran patients.  Covington County Hospital’s project was selected because of its potential impact on an extremely rural area.
  
  
• Crisp Regional Hospital, Cordele, GA.  Crisp Regional Hospital seeks $849,720 in Pilot Program funding to provide connected care services, including remote patient monitoring, primarily to low-income patients suffering from chronic or long-term conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.  Crisp Regional Hospital’s Pilot project would serve approximately 1,000 patients, an estimated 89% of whom would be low-income.  Crisp Regional Hospital is located in Crisp County, Georgia, a rural area with a high incidence of chronic illness.  Crisp Regional Hospital’s application was selected because of its primary focus on providing connected care services to low-income patients with chronic conditions, and its potential impact on patients in rural Georgia. 
  
  
• Forensics, Salt Lake City, UT; Valley EPIC Outpatient, Taylorsville, UT; Highland Springs Specialty Clinic Holladay, Salt Lake City, UT; Highland Springs Specialty Clinic American Fork, American Fork, UT; Carmen Pingree Autism Center of Learning, Salt Lake City, UT; Kids Intensive Day Services, Midvale, UT; CORE Recovery Management Outpatient Services, Salt Lake City, UT; Valleywest, West Valley City, UT; Children’s Outpatient Services, Salt Lake City, UT.  These sites filed separate applications for similar Pilot projects. Collectively, these projects seek $5,550,146 in Pilot Program support to offer increased video visits and enhanced telehealth experience to patients dealing with chronic and mental health conditions. These projects would reach 23,239 patients, 96% of whom would be low-income patients. These projects were selected because of the potential impact on low-income patient communities.
  
  
• Friend Health, Chicago, IL.  Friend Health’s Pilot project would use $606,900 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and remote treatments to primarily low-income patients suffering from chronic conditions, high-risk pregnancies, infectious diseases (including COVID-19), mental health issues, and opioid dependency.  Friend Health’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 39,000 patients in Chicago, 86% of whom are low-income.  Friend Health’s application was selected for its plan to engage low-income patients in connected care services and thus optimize preventive care and more effectively manage chronic conditions and COVID-19.
  
  
• Long Island Select Healthcare, Inc., a consortium with five sites in Long Island, NY.  Long Island Select Healthcare seeks $306,000 in Connected Care support to provide patient connectivity for video visits and consults and other remote treatment.  Long Island Select Healthcare’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 5,700 patients who reside in group homes, 100% of whom are low-income.  Long Island Select Healthcare would leverage Pilot Program funding to expand access to care for its patients who reside in group homes, including patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Long Island Select Healthcare’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on expanding access to care and addressing broadband access issues for a significant number of vulnerable, low-income patients residing in Long Island. 
  
  
• Marion General Hospital, Marion, IN. Marion General Hospital seeks $34,230 in Connected Care funding for patient broadband and telehealth platform licenses to provide remote patient monitoring, video visits, and remote treatment to treat patients with chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, and high blood pressure), infectious diseases (including COVID-19), and opioid dependency.  Marion General Hospital’s Pilot project would serve 345 patients, including 25 directly served by requested patient broadband, an estimated 45% of whom are low-income.  Marion General Hospital’s service area includes rural areas and Medically Underserved Areas.  Marion General Hospital would leverage Pilot Program funding to expand its connected care services to treat additional conditions.  Marion General Hospital’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on expanding the availability of and access to connected care services to underserved high-risk patients with chronic conditions, opioid dependency, and infectious diseases. 
  
  
• Metro Health, Washington, DC.  Metro Health seeks $297,517 in Pilot Program support to provide remote patient monitoring and video visits to treat patients with chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and HIV/AIDS.  Metro Health’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 1,450 patients, including 200 directly served by patient broadband, 100% of whom are low-income.  Metro Health’s service area includes Health Professional Shortage and Medically Underserved Areas.  Metro Health’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on addressing patient connectivity barriers and providing enhanced video visits for low-income patients.
  
  
• MFA 2150 C-19, Washington, DC.  MFA 2150 C-19’s (GW Medical Faculty Associates’) Pilot project would use $454,809 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and virtual visits to primarily low-income patients suffering from chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, atopic dermatitis, and COVID-19.  MFA 2150 C-19’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 1,100 patients in the District of Columbia, 80% of whom are low-income patients.  MFA 2150 C-19’s Pilot project was selected because of its focus on improving access to care for a large percentage of low-income patients in Washington, DC.
  
  
• New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center – Bronx Child and Family Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY.  New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center’s Pilot project would use $636,650 in Connected Care support to provide video visits or consult services to low-income patients suffering from mental health conditions.  New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center’s Pilot project would serve an estimated 10,000 patients in Bronx, New York, 100% of whom are low-income patients.  New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center was selected because it would expand mental health access to a large patient population that is 100% low-income. 
  
  
• North County Health Services (NCHS), San Marcos, CA. North County Health Services seeks $334,887 in Connected Care support for health care provider broadband and telehealth video licenses to provide patient-based Internet connected remote monitoring and virtual visits and consults.  Through this funding, North County Services’ Pilot project will provide primary care services, COVID-19 screening, routine and urgent care, behavioral health, women’s health, and dental services to patients, and will treat chronic and long-term conditions, high-risk pregnancy and maternal health conditions, infectious disease, and opioid dependency.  North County Health Services would treat 30,000 patients in San Diego County, 96% of whom are low-income patients.  North County Health Services was selected because of its focus on increasing access to comprehensive healthcare for low-income and underserved individuals.
  
  
• Norwegian American Hospital, Chicago, IL. Norwegian American Hospital’s Pilot project seeks $203,065 in Connected Care support to provide patient broadband and telehealth software to increase the use of telehealth visits with its patients.  Norwegian American Hospital’s Pilot project would serve approximately 675 patients, 100% of whom would be low-income.  Norwegian American Hospital was selected because of its 100% low-income patient population and plans to provide those patients with broadband service for telehealth visits.
  
  
• NY Community Broadband Partnership, consortium with sites in Sodus, NY; Port Byron, NY; Geneva, NY; Bath, NY; Newark, NY; Penn Yan, NY; Ovid, NY; and Dundee, NY.  NY Community Broadband Partnership seeks $126,480 in Connected Care support to build out its telehealth resources and better serve the migrant community of the Finger Lakes region.  The project would target chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, opioid dependency, and infectious diseases, which have been treated by the participating sites for more than 20 years.  The project would reach 24,227 patients, 100% of whom would be low-income.  The project was selected because of its potential regional impact addressing a diverse set of health conditions for low-income patients.
  
  
• One Brooklyn Health System, consortium with sites in Brooklyn, NY.  One Brooklyn Health System is a consortium comprised of three sites across Brooklyn.  One Brooklyn Health System’s Pilot project seeks $882,401 in Connected Care support to provide video visits and other services to low-income individuals suffering from chronic or long-term conditions, high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, infectious disease, including COVID-19, mental health conditions and opioid dependency.  One Brooklyn Health System’s Pilot program would reach an estimated 68,000 patients, 80% of whom would be low-income.  One Brooklyn was selected because of its potential impact on a large low-income population.
  
  
• Parkview Consortium, consortium with seven sites in Indiana and Ohio.  Parkview Consortium will use $642,600 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring to treat low-income and veteran patients who suffer from diabetes.  Parkview will serve an estimated 350 patients, 18% of whom are estimated to be low-income or veterans, at 7 sites in Indiana.  Parkview Consortium was chosen for its plan to extend connected care services for diabetes management to rural patients.
  
  
• Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls, OR.  Sky Lakes Medical Center seeks $193,673 in Pilot Program funding to treat patients with chronic or long-term conditions, high-risk pregnancy/maternal health, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency.   Sky Lakes Medical Center would serve an estimated 150 chronically ill, isolated patients, in rural Oregon, all of whom are low-income.  Sky Lakes Medical Center would leverage Pilot Program funding to provide patients with broadband connections to participate in video visits.  Sky Lakes Medical Center was selected because of its focus on expanding access to care for chronically ill, isolated patients in rural areas.
  
  
• Trinity Health Consortium, Darby, PA, and Langhorne, PA.  Trinity Health Consortium’s Pilot project would use $652,800 in Connected Care support to provide remote patient monitoring and video visits and consults for primarily low-income patients suffering from chronic conditions, mental health issues, and opioid dependency.  Trinity Health Consortium’s Pilot project would serve approximately 80,000 patients, approximately 65% of whom are either low-income or veterans, in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metro area.  Trinity Health Consortium’s proposal was selected for its proposal to treat and monitor chronic health conditions, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency for a sizeable low-income and veteran patient group.
  
  
• Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc., consortium with 13 sites in Erie County, NY; Niagara County, NY; and Genesee County, NY.  Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc.’s, Pilot project would use $373,320 in Connected Care support to provide remote treatment and video consults to primarily low-income patients who require mental health and opioid-dependency services.  Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center, Inc.’s, Pilot project would serve an estimated 15,000 patients in western New York, an estimated 73% of whom are low-income and 5% veterans.  Western New York Rural Area Health Education Center’s Pilot project was selected for its plan to provide connected care services to a large Medicaid population with mental health and opioid-dependency requirements.
  
  
• Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, VA.  Winchester Medical Center seeks $367,200 in Connected Care Pilot Program funding to provide patient broadband and connected care services, including remote patient monitoring, and video visits and consults, to treat patients for infectious diseases, opioid dependency, chronic conditions, mental health conditions, and high-risk pregnancy/maternal health in Virginia and West Virginia.  Winchester Medical Center would serve an estimated 338 patients, all of whom are low-income.  Winchester Medical Center’s service area includes rural areas, as well as Health Professional Shortage Areas and Medically Underserved Areas.  Winchester Medical Center was selected because of its potential impact on rural and underserved areas, and its focus on increasing access to care for high-risk, low-income patients.
  
  
• Youth Outreach Services, a consortium of three sites in Chicago, IL.  Youth Outreach Services seeks $79,050 to provide mental health and substance abuse disorder services remotely.  Youth Outreach Services’ Pilot project would treat an estimated 12,000 at-risk youth in the greater Chicago area, 90% of whom are low-income patients.  Youth Outreach Services’ Pilot project was selected because of its focus on providing mental health services to a large number of low-income children and young adults.

To learn more about the FCC’s Connected Care Pilot Program, visit https://www.fcc.gov/wireline-competition/telecommunications-access-policy-division/connected-care-pilot-program. Action by the Commission October 26, 2021 by Public Notice (FCC 21-113).  Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.  Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing separate statements.

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UNITED STATES — The United States Department of Agriculture is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural healthcare facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, healthcare services and nutrition assistance.

President Biden’s comprehensive plan to recover the economy and deliver relief to the American people is changing the course of the pandemic and providing immediate relief to millions of households, growing the economy and addressing the stark, intergenerational inequities that have worsened in the wake of COVID-19.

“Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is playing a critical role to help rural America build back better and equitably as the nation continues to respond to the pandemic,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants, USDA will help rural hospitals and local communities increase access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, medical supplies, telehealth, and food assistance, and support the construction or renovation of rural healthcare facilities. These investments will also help improve the long-term viability of rural healthcare providers across the nation.”

Applicants may apply for two types of assistance: Recovery Grants and Impact Grants.

The Biden-Harris administration is making Recovery Grants available to help public bodies, nonprofit organizations and tribes provide immediate COVID-19 relief to support rural hospitals, healthcare clinics and local communities.

These funds may be used to increase COVID-19 vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities; purchase medical supplies; replace revenue lost during the pandemic; build and rehabilitate temporary or permanent structures for healthcare services; support staffing needs for vaccine administration and testing; and support facility and operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities.

Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended.  

The administration is also making Impact Grants available to help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and tribes solve regional rural healthcare problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural healthcare system in response to the pandemic.

USDA encourages applicants to plan and implement strategies to: develop healthcare systems that offer a blend of behavioral care, primary care and other medical services; support healthcare as an anchor institution in small communities; and expand telehealth, electronic health data sharing, workforce development, transportation, paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral health, farmworker healthcare and cooperative home care.

For Montana, Impact Grant applications must be submitted to the Montana USDA Rural Development State Office by 4 p.m. MDT on Oct. 12.

 USDA encourages potential applicants to review the application guide at www.rd.usda.gov/erhc. USDA Rural Development is prioritizing projects that will support key priorities under the Biden-Harris administration to help rural America build back better and stronger. Key priorities include combatting the COVID-19 pandemic; addressing the impacts of climate change; and advancing equity in rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points.

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