This funding record is inactive. Please see the program website or contact the program sponsor to determine if this program is currently accepting applications or will open again in the future.

Connected Care Pilot Program

Link

https://www.usac.org/rural-health-care/connected-care-pilot-program/

Additional Links

Connected Care Pilot Program

Deadline

Application Deadline: Dec 7, 2020

Sponsor

Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)

Purpose

Offers funding to help lower the cost to healthcare providers of providing connected healthcare services, which use internet-enabled technologies to deliver medical, diagnostic, patient-centered, treatment-related services directly to patients outside of traditional medical facilities. Covers 85% of eligible costs for broadband connectivity and other expenses necessary to deliver connected care services. Priority is given to projects that will primarily benefit individuals with low income and veterans qualified for VA healthcare.

Funds may be used for:

• New or upgraded broadband connections for healthcare providers or participating patients
• Internet security firewall services necessary to protect sensitive patient information
• Information services that capture, transmit, and store healthcare data for connected care, including store-and-forward technology, patient reported outcome platforms, remote patient monitoring platforms, and other telehealth services
• Network equipment, such as routers, necessary to make internet service functional, or to manage, control, or operate supported broadband service
• Miscellaneous costs such as those for installation, activation, initial configuration, and other associated fees or charges

Additional details regarding use of funds for this program can be found in the Connected Care eligible services chart.

Amount of Funding

Award amounts are based on the estimated total projects costs. Up to 85% of eligible costs may be funded.

Project period: 3 years
Estimated total program funding: $100,000,000

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants can be individual healthcare providers (HCPs) or a consortium of HCPs that includes at least 1 of the facilities mentioned below.

The 2 initial criteria a HCP or consortium of HCPs must meet to be considered eligible for the Connected Care Pilot Program include:

1. Being a public or nonprofit entity
2. Must be 1 of the following eligible facility types:
   • Post-secondary educational institutions offering healthcare instruction, such as a teaching hospital or medical school
   • Community health centers
   • Health centers providing healthcare to migrants
   • Community mental health centers
   • Local health department or agency
   • Not-for-profit hospitals
   • Rural Health Clinics (RHC)
   • Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF)
   • The dedicated emergency room of a rural, for-profit hospital

Eligible healthcare providers may be located in rural or non-rural areas and may apply for funding individually or as a consortium of providers. Non-rural healthcare providers are not required to apply as part of majority rural consortium.

Applicants must request an eligibility determination and obtain a Health Care Provider Number (HCP Number) by filing an FCC Form 460 before an application can be submitted.

To apply as a consortium, each participating site must be an eligible HCP with an approved FCC Form 460, and the consortium will also need an approved FCC Form 460.

Geographic Coverage

Nationwide

What This Program Funds

Equipment • New Program • Operating Costs and Staffing

Application Process

Application instructions, requirements, and other information about the online application process can be found on the program website.

All applications, program forms, and supporting documentation must be submitted through the My Portal application management system.

Past applicant webinar recordings Application guide
Applicant frequently asked questions

Contact

For questions related to FCC universal service programs and policy:
Telecommunications Access Policy Division, FCC Wireline Competition Bureau
202-418-7400

For Connected Care Pilot Program questions:
ConnCarePltProg@fcc.gov

Rural Awards

Past awards communities have received are described on the program website.

Rural communities who have received funding include:

• Community Guidance Center in Indiana, Pennsylvania was awarded funds to provide mental health, substance use, and intellectual treatment services through teletherapy to 150 low-income and veteran patients in western Pennsylvania.
• Yukon Flats Health Center in Fort Yukon, Alaska received funding to provide remote monitoring, video visits, imaging diagnostics, remote treatment, and other services to veterans and low-income patients to treat a range of conditions, including individuals with mental health and opioid dependency issues.

Topics This Program Addresses

Healthcare Facilities • Infrastructure • Teleservices and Technology