The FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program has been refunded through stimulus package that is part of the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Since there many unfunded applications in the queue when CARES funding was exhausted, the FCC may prioritize funding those who previously submitted application before soliciting new applications. The legislation requires the FCC to issue a public notice seeking comment on the metrics they should use to evaluate applicants under the program and how they should treat applications filed as a result of the CARES-funded application window that opened in April 2020. The FCC must allow applicants that filed applications in the first round the opportunity to update or amend their applications. The FCC is required to update applicants on status of applications and rationale for final funding decisions. If they choose to deny an application they must issue notice to the applicant and provide 10 days for the applicant to submit supplementary information, which the FCC must consider before issuing a final determination on the application.
Below is a summary of the program that occurred in 2020 as a result of CARES Act funding:
The COVID-19 Telehealth Program will quickly distribute the $200 million that Congress appropriated to the FCC in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for connected care services and devices, whether for treatment of coronavirus or other health conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Eligible expenses include:
- Telecommunications services
- Information services such as Internet access, including access for patient use.
- Devices necessary to enable the provision of telehealth services, including services and/or devices (e.g., smartphones or tablets) that generate and transmit patient-reported outcomes from patients to health care providers. Monitoring devices are only funded if they are themselves connected.
- Services or devices need not be used to treat patients with COVID-19, but must be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus,” such as to treat non-COVID-19 patients remotely to free up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients or to facilitate physical distancing to prevent spread of COVID-19.
- Supported services and devices must be integral to patient care.” Administrative costs of program participation are not supported.
NOTE: The FCC will award support to eligible applicants based on the estimated costs of the supported services and connected devices they intend to purchase, as described in each health care provider's respective application. However, in order to give each health care provider maximum flexibility to respond to changing circumstances during the pandemic, they will not require applicants to purchase only the services and connected devices identified in their applications. They may rather use awarded support to purchase any necessary eligible services and connected devices. In addition, applicants that have exhausted initially awarded funding may request additional support.
The second round of the Program (Round 2), will provide immediate support to eligible health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by fully funding their telecommunications services, information services, and devices necessary to provide critical connected care services until the Program's funds have been expended or the COVID-19 pandemic has ended.
None is available.