Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai yesterday announced a proposal to support telehealth amid the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. If adopted by the Commission, the program would help eligible health care providers purchase telecommunications equipment, broadband access, and devices necessary to provide remote health services.
Telehealth could help slow the spread of the virus to and among health care workers and patients who are not infected. As part of the CARES Act, Congress appropriated $200 million to the FCC to support health care providers’ use of telehealth services in combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to an FCC press release:
This $200 million Program would immediately support health care providers responding to the pandemic by providing eligible health care providers support to purchase telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to enable the provision of telehealth services during this emergency period. It would provide selected applicants with full funding for these eligible telehealth services and devices. In order to receive funding, eligible health care providers would submit a streamlined application to the Commission for this program, and the Commission would award funds to selected applicants on a rolling basis until the funds are exhausted or until the current pandemic has ended.
Useful Links
FCC: Chrm Pai Announces Plan for $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program
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For up-to-date information and state resources regarding coronavirus, including confirmed case counts and clinician guidance, visit http://health.maryland.gov/coronavirus.
