The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under its existing Rural Health Care Program authority, is proposing a three-year, $100 million Connected Care Pilot program that would support bringing telehealth services directly to low-income patients and veterans. It would provide an 85 percent discount on connectivity for broadband-enabled telehealth services that connect patients directly to their doctors and are used to treat a wide range of health conditions. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the Commission seeks comment on testing the new program. In particular, the NPRM seeks comment on the appropriate budget, duration, and structure of the Pilot, along with other issues. Comments are due 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, and reply comments are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. For more information, visit the Center for Connected Health Policy, part of the HRSA/FORHP-supported National Telehealth Policy Research Center. Click here to access additional information.
