Wisconsin Government Provides $5M in Grants to Bolster Telehealth Services

The Wisconsin state government is making a $5 million investment in telehealth services.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, announced the investment, which will be used to make telehealth services, including telemental healthcare, more accessible.

"The past two years have challenged our kids in more ways than we ever could have imagined, from the loss of a loved one to changes in routines and social connections," said Evers in the press release. "We know they are struggling perhaps now more than ever. And they aren't the only ones — many adults are working to overcome substance use disorders and mental health challenges as well."

The state health department will use $2.5 million to create a new grant program for hospitals and health systems to expand and improve child psychiatry telehealth services. Up to five one-year grants of proximately $500,000 will be provided to eligible healthcare organizations across the state. Applications for the program are due May 6.

The other $2.5 million will fund a grant program for providers that partner with community organizations to establish telehealth access points within neighborhoods, including at food pantries, homeless shelters, libraries, long-term care facilities, community centers, and schools. The goal is to break down barriers to virtual care for people with limited technology access and unreliable internet. Between 25 to 50 providers will receive one-year grants of up to $100,000. Applications for this program are also due May 6.

"This investment in telehealth services is critical, as telehealth can bridge the gaps between patients and providers by offering more flexibility and convenience in accessing healthcare, reducing the stigma and increasing the availability of mental and behavioral health services, and ensuring folks can meet with a healthcare professional no matter where they live," Evers said.

The grant programs are being funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, which earmarked millions to help rural health providers strengthen telehealth capabilities and boost access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

There is an ongoing push to widen access to telehealth. Over the past few years, the Federal Communications Commission has offered millions in funding through various programs to help providers build and enhance telehealth services, including the COVID-19 Telehealth Program and the Connected Care Pilot Program.

But policy changes need to follow funding to ensure permanent access to telehealth after the public health emergency has ended. At the federal level, regulatory flexibilities for telehealth under the Medicare program have been extended to five months after the COVID-19 pandemic is officially declared over.

But there is still the issue of piecemeal regulations at the state level, which results in provider use and patient access barriers.

For instance, nearly all US states lifted the requirement that patients see a provider in person before using virtual care services. Tennessee, however, did not lift the requirement. At the same time, Alaska and West Virginia require an in-person visit before certain services can be offered virtually, according to a report released earlier this year.