FCC Announces 3rd Group of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Awards

The Federal Communications Commission has announced a third group of healthcare organizations to receive funding through the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.

Some 71 projects have qualified for roughly $40.5 million through the program, which helps providers and other groups to acquire “telecommunications services, information services and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

They join 134 organizations approved for a little more than $83 million in rounds announced in August and September.

“Advances in telehealth continue to help bridge the gap in healthcare for our most vulnerable populations and keep Americans connected with their doctors, nurses and health care providers in the face of the pandemic,” Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release. “With today’s announcement, the FCC has approved more than $123 million in applications for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program - nearly half of the amount allotted in the 2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act. We remain committed to helping facilitate even more innovative health care efforts in every corner of our country.”

The organization launched the first round of the program in 2020, armed with $200 million in federal funding. By July, the FCC had used up those funds on awards to 539 programs. In December Congress voted to relaunch the program this year with almost $250 million in new funding.

The re-launch includes administrative changes prompted by complaints last year over a lack of transparency and concerns about how the recipients were selected. The first round represented the highest-scoring applications from each state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia, and last month’s round represented the highest scoring applications regardless of location. This week’s and subsequent rounds will represent the highest-scoring of the remaining applications.

The FCC is expected to announce at least one more round to bring the total amount of awards to at least $150 million. At that point the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau, which oversees the program, will announce an opportunity for all remaining applicants to resubmit their applications to qualify for the remaining funds.

The COVID-19 Telehealth Program isn’t a grant program, but a reimbursement program. To receive disbursements, healthcare providers are required to submit an invoicing form and supporting documentation to receive reimbursement for eligible telemedicine and mHealth expenses and services.

A complete list of the latest awards can be found here.

The FCC will also soon announce the latest group of awards from the Connected Care Pilot Program, a $100 million project aimed at helping healthcare organizations launch or expand connected health projects aimed at improving access to care for underserved populations and veterans. Commissioners are expected to set a timetable for that announcement at their meeting next week.