New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) https://health.ny.gov/funding/soi/18828 has announced a grant program to support projects that invest in new community infrastructure to expand telehealth access.
The goal is to improve access to quality healthcare in underserved urban and rural communities. The Telehealth Capital Program a partnership between NY. State and philanthropic partners will help to close the health care equity gap.
The Solicitation of Interest for the Telehealth Capital Program has been issued by the NYSDOH, Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management Health Care Transformation Group (DOH01-THCP-2022 SOI#18828). Applications will open January 4, 2022 with applications due no later than 1/18/22
The NYSDOH grant funding for $1.5million will be matched by the private entity, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors in partnership with the New York State Health Foundation, that has also pledged $1.5 million to support projects that invest in new community infrastructure to expand telehealth access. The private entity will administer the funds and any policy and/or policy decisions regarding private funds will be made by the private entity.
In New York State, telehealth usage is lower among low income, minority, rural, older, and other under resourced communities. This disparity predates the COVID-19 public health emergency but has been exacerbated as the pandemic has driven a greater percentage of health care online.
Although some of this disparity is due to gaps in digital literacy, the desire to access healthcare services via telehealth, along with other behavioral factors, are in a large part due to gaps in the physical infrastructure.
Well over 20% of New Yorkers, disproportionately those who are already underserved and under-resourced, lack either connectivity, audiovisual devices, or the private spaces necessary to receive services via telehealth where they live.
Funded projects will be able to expand access to telehealth among Medicaid eligible persons, as well as low-income, minority, rural, older, and other underserved communities
lacking connectivity, audio-visual or remote patient monitoring devices, and also the private spaces that are necessary to access telehealth.
Projects may include but are not limited to:
- Creation of “community telehealth hubs” for underserved communities that contain a private, connected and device-equipped space to facilitate telehealth encounters which may be located at public libraries, social service agencies, local health departments, or homeless shelters
- The purchase or to renovate a telehealth-equipped van or similar vehicle
- The purchase of telehealth equipment for individual use at an originating site
- Innovative activities to increase access to telehealth among communities experiencing connectivity gaps
Minimum Eligibility requirements include:
- Must be a legally existing organization capable of entering into a binding Master Grant Contract with NYSDOH
- Must be a provider type such as a diagnostic and treatment center, mental health clinic alcohol and substance abuse treatment clinic, licensed clinic, or voluntary Foster Care Agencies providing other limited health related services
For more information contact:
NYSDOH
Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management
Health Care Transformation Group