If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s the need for robust virtual health capabilities. Unfortunately, the most vulnerable patients, low-income Americans and veterans, are often left behind as a result of poor access to facilities where remote care can be delivered. A new $100M FCC pilot program aims to change that.
At some point after November 2020 (the FCC has yet to give exact dates), the Federal Communications Commission will begin accepting applications from hospitals and health systems looking to create unique remote care facilities, making it easier for patients who can’t connect virtually from home or are unable to travel to a main hospital location. The funds, available over three years, will provide universal service support for 85% of the cost of eligible services and network equipment including: (1) patient broadband internet access services, (2) health care provider broadband data connections, (3) other connected care information services, and (4) certain network equipment (e.g., equipment necessary to make a supported broadband service function such as routers). The number of providers receiving grants is not yet known and the FCC has not placed a cap on the grant amount. We expect the number of providers receiving grants to be relatively limited and certainly nowhere near the number of providers that received funding under the $200M CARES Act Telehealth Program.
Services Provided DO NOT Include Medical Devices
Only nonprofit and public eligible healthcare providers are permitted to apply and the program will not provide actual medical devices such as tablets or monitoring equipment. Rather, the FCC will decide on the connectivity equipment based on how much broadband service is needed by the applicant. Those applying will also need to inform the FCC what percentage of patients will be using the telehealth system.
The Numbers Tell the Story
To gain access to funding, providers will need to show their approach to connected care will result in demonstrable results. Key metrics will include:
- Reductions in potential emergency room or urgent care visits
- Decreases in hospital admissions or readmissions
- Condition-specific outcomes (i.e. premature births or acute incidents among suffers of a chronic illness, patient satisfaction as to with their overall health status)
- Number of patients treated using Pilot Program funding
- Number of telehealth encounters using Pilot Program funding
- Number of patients retained in treatment at 30, 60, and 90 days and at one year
- Patient travel miles saved
- Patient compliance with care plan
- Increase in patient knowledge of care
- Patient comfort with telehealth applications and procedures
- Patient satisfaction with their overall health status
- Provider comfort with telehealth application and procedures
- Provider satisfaction with delivery method
Same Old-Same Old Need Not Apply
As we counsel our clients and help put their applications together, we’re urging them to think different. Given the limited number of expected grants, standing out in the crowd will be a necessity. Some are looking at programs that:
- Expand existing facility networks to provide broadband connectivity
- Provide expanded capability for telehealth at existing facility locations in remote locations
- Convert spaces within public facilities (such as libraries and town halls) into telehealth centers
- Expanding remote mental health and behavioral health capabilities
You can view the entire statement from the FCC here. For more assistance on this as well as other federal grant and loan programs, contact akiro today.
