SHLB, Teleheath Groups Urge FCC Rural Health Care Program Modernization
The FCC should further modernize its Rural Health Care program to "address disparities in health[care] availability and health outcomes between rural and non-rural areas," said a joint filing from the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) and several regional…
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telehealth organizations. The filing was posted by the commission Tuesday in docket 02-60. The groups proposed an increase in the discount percentage in the Healthcare Connect Fund for rural healthcare providers, the establishment of mechanisms for short-term relief if program demand exceeds the set cap, and an expanded definition of the word "rural." The groups also suggested the commission update its analysis of eligible healthcare providers, consider minimum levels of connectivity needed by the providers and recalibrate the Rural Health Care Program cap based on the analysis. The filing said rural healthcare providers face the highest costs for connectivity and are the least able to afford such connections, that a higher subsidy under the Healthcare Connect Fund is needed and that the fund doesn't "adequately promote and sustain open consortia." In "this rapidly evolving environment, it is vital for the Commission to ensure universal service for rural health care continues to efficiently and cost effectively promote access to affordable modern broadband," the filing said.