[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":2727,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on the agency\u2019s proposal to increase the $400 million annual cap for the Rural Health Care Program, which provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services to rural communities to support telemedicine networks.

In a new notice of proposed rulemaking and order<\/a>, the FCC notes that \u201cfor the second year in a row, demand is likely to exceed available RHC Program support, leaving participating healthcare providers with unanticipated cuts in funding.\u201d

According to the agency, its order would \u201cgrant relief to rural healthcare providers facing potential cuts in Funding Year 2017\u201d and \u201cenable service providers to voluntarily reduce their rates for qualifying FY 2017 requests while keeping constant the support amount provided by the Universal Service Fund.\u201d

Congress in 1996 mandated that the FCC use the Universal Service Fund to provide support for both telecommunications and advanced information services for eligible providers in rural communities to enable telemedicine, transmit health records, and conduct other telehealth activities.

Also See<\/b>: Telehealth plays growing role for patient access to care in rural America<\/a>

However, the American Hospital Association contends that the Rural Health Care Program must be updated to keep pace with the growing connectivity needs of healthcare providers.

In May, AHA sent a letter to the FCC urging it to implement several changes including increasing the program\u2019s $400 million annual cap.

\u201cFunding for broadband-enabled healthcare is needed today more than ever, and the $400 million cap established 20 years ago is no longer sufficient to meet burgeoning demand,\u201d wrote Ashley Thompson, AHA\u2019s senior vice president of public policy analysis and development. \u201cThe inclusion of a new class of provider\u2014skilled nursing facilities\u2014beginning in 2017 will place additional demands on funding and should be accompanied by an increase in the cap to accommodate them. Furthermore, since the release of the National Broadband Plan in 2010, the Commission has increased the cap or budget for every Universal Service Fund program but the RHC program.\u201d

Thompson added that \u201cgiven the extremely tight budgets of rural health providers, even small reductions in support can disincentivize program participation,\u201d and as a result, \u201cit is time to revisit and reset this cap to provide support for all qualifying applicants and ensure that all Americans can benefit from a broadband-connected health care system, regardless of where they live.\u201d

According to the FCC, it will consider the proposed rulemaking and order at the agency\u2019s December 14 public meeting.","saveContent":"The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public comment on the agency\u2019s proposal to increase the $400 million annual cap for the Rural Health Care Program, which provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services to rural communities to support telemedicine networks.

In a new notice of proposed rulemaking and order<\/a>, the FCC notes that \u201cfor the second year in a row, demand is likely to exceed available RHC Program support, leaving participating healthcare providers with unanticipated cuts in funding.\u201d

According to the agency, its order would \u201cgrant relief to rural healthcare providers facing potential cuts in Funding Year 2017\u201d and \u201cenable service providers to voluntarily reduce their rates for qualifying FY 2017 requests while keeping constant the support amount provided by the Universal Service Fund.\u201d

Congress in 1996 mandated that the FCC use the Universal Service Fund to provide support for both telecommunications and advanced information services for eligible providers in rural communities to enable telemedicine, transmit health records, and conduct other telehealth activities.

Also See<\/b>: Telehealth plays growing role for patient access to care in rural America<\/a>

However, the American Hospital Association contends that the Rural Health Care Program must be updated to keep pace with the growing connectivity needs of healthcare providers.

In May, AHA sent a letter to the FCC urging it to implement several changes including increasing the program\u2019s $400 million annual cap.

\u201cFunding for broadband-enabled healthcare is needed today more than ever, and the $400 million cap established 20 years ago is no longer sufficient to meet burgeoning demand,\u201d wrote Ashley Thompson, AHA\u2019s senior vice president of public policy analysis and development. \u201cThe inclusion of a new class of provider\u2014skilled nursing facilities\u2014beginning in 2017 will place additional demands on funding and should be accompanied by an increase in the cap to accommodate them. Furthermore, since the release of the National Broadband Plan in 2010, the Commission has increased the cap or budget for every Universal Service Fund program but the RHC program.\u201d

Thompson added that \u201cgiven the extremely tight budgets of rural health providers, even small reductions in support can disincentivize program participation,\u201d and as a result, \u201cit is time to revisit and reset this cap to provide support for all qualifying applicants and ensure that all Americans can benefit from a broadband-connected health care system, regardless of where they live.\u201d

According to the FCC, it will consider the proposed rulemaking and order at the agency\u2019s December 14 public meeting.","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

FCC looks to expand $400M cap for Rural Health Care Program

More for you