On November 9, 2021, the FCC approved an additional 75 applications for funding commitments totaling $42,163,705 for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
This is the FCC’s fourth funding announcement of approved Round 2 applications, bringing the total to about $166,13 million awarded to healthcare providers in each state, territory, and D.C.
For example, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis was awarded $999,722 for home monitoring devices tablets, security and telehealth software and licenses and other connected devices to help patients geographically distant and support high risk patients with at home tools to monitor their health.
Los Barrios Unidos Community Clinic in Dallas, Texas was awarded $951,800 for devices including tablets and telehealth software to enable video and voice consultations with medical providers.
The Ochsner Medical Center as part of a system of hospitals throughout Louisiana was awarded $999,996 for connected device kits to use to support remote patient monitoring to deliver care to high risk patients in rural areas that were the hardest hit by COVID-19.
Also, FCC announced their third set of approved Connected Care Pilot Program projects. The 36 projects were approved for a total of $15,337,689 in funding. The selected Pilot projects join 57 projects approved earlier this year for over $69.3 million to serve patients in 36 states plus D.C.
The Pilot Program will make up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund (USF) over a three year period for selected pilot projects to help defray the costs of providing certain telehealth services for eligible healthcare providers, with an emphasis on providing connected care services to low income and veteran patients.
The additional projects selected represent a broad array of geographic areas and a diversity of provider types involving patients in underserved communities, and veteran patients,
The projects 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.
An example of funding for $1,018,449 to support Connected Care was awarded to Conway Medical 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 is expected to serve an estimated 2,000 patients, where 18% of them are low income in Conway, South Carolina. Conway Medical was selected because of their plan to expand telehealth access to patients residing in rural and underserved areas.
Another project, the New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center-Bronx Child and Family Mental Health Center, Bronx, NY, Pilot program intends to serve an estimated 10,000 patients in Bronx, NY, where 100% are low income patients.
For more information on both funding announcements, go to https://www.fcc.gov to read the press releases on FCC’s additional $42.16 million awarded to Healthcare Providers for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program and for information on the approved Connected Care Pilot Program awards for $15,337,689 in funding.