The Ins and Outs of the FCC’s $200 Million COVID-19 Telehealth Program

As part of the government’s recent measures to curb the economic crisis brought in by the spread of COVID-19, lawmakers recently signed a bill called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which contains numerous programs created to offer assistance for industries affected by the pandemic.

One of these plans, the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, was recently adopted by the Federal Trade Commission (FCC), and it includes a $200 million financial package meant to support care providers who are following the social distancing guidelines. The goal is to help healthcare providers purchase telehealth and IT services to successfully treat patients virtually.

As of April 13, eligible healthcare providers can request assistance from the FCC to help fund their newly acquired telehealth needs. Many have already taken advantage of the program; the FFC awarded $1 million to Ochsner Clinic Foundation, in New Orleans, Louisiana for telehealth-related services.

Read below to learn more about how you can apply for telehealth assistance today.

What Does the Program Entail?

During a crisis any assistance is welcome, but the details of the program matter. The more informed you are about the Telehealth Program, the better equipped you’ll be to shift your practice towards a virtual approach.

The FCC has selected a number of covered expenses related to telehealth services, which include:	The Telehealth Program does NOT include funding for the following:
Telecommunication Services: Voice communication services for providers or patients Information Services: Internet connectivity services for providers or patients, remote patient monitoring technology, patient outcomes reporting technology, video conferencing services Necessary Devices/Equipment: Tablets, smart phones, remote patient monitoring equipment for patient or provider use	Staffing Costs: IT personnel and administrative/training costs are not included in the relief package Websites: The Telehealth Program is not intended to fund the development or creation of new websites, systems, or platforms Unconnected Devices: Devices that patients use at home and then manually report the results to their medical professional are not covered

Quick Facts

This is not a grant; Applicants receive reimbursement for eligible expenses and services. More details about compliance on the FCC website.
Retroactive costs are eligible for funding up to March 13, 2020.
There is currently no deadline for applications, and they are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

Now that you know what the program entails, the next question revolves around eligibility. How do you know if you qualify for assistance?

Eligibility in this instance is two-tiered. You need to qualify through both categories in order to receive assistance. Without making this more complicated than it should be, let’s review the requirements for each level of eligibility.

Eligible to Receive Funding

This is the first category of eligibility. Please note: being eligible to receive funding doesn’t necessarily mean you are eligible to participate in the new Telehealth Program. It is simply the first step toward determining your eligibility.

The Telehealth Program follows the rules set in place by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which only includes nonprofit and public healthcare providers from the following categories:

Local health departments/agencies
Teaching hospitals, medical schools, and post-secondary organizations that offer health care instruction
Rural health clinics
Community health centers or health centers that provide health care to migrants
Community mental health centers
Not-for-profit hospitals
Skilled nursing facilities

Along with falling under one of these categories, you must also be registered with the federal System for Award Management (SAM) to receive COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding. If you are already registered, then you can simply move on to the next eligibility tier.

If you have not yet registered, go to their online system and make sure you have the following information at hand:

DUNS number
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) or Employment Identification Number (EIN)
Bank account information (routing, account number, account type)

While you can still submit an application if you are not yet registered with SAM, we recommend registering as soon as you can because it can take up to eleven business days for your registration to go through.

Eligibility to Participate in the Program

On to the next step: verifying your eligibility to participate. The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), a non-profit that aims to make internet connectivity accessible, affordable, and pervasive, is the organizing body tasked with determining the eligibility of healthcare providers for funding.

Yes, it’s another form you have to fill out. You can apply on USAC’s portal, where they can notify you of any changes in your application process, or you can email Form 460 to RHC-Assist@usac.org.

Just a heads up—if your organization has separate sites, each site will have to apply separately for eligibility from the USAC (if they are seeking assistance through the Telehealth Program).

Once again, you do not have to wait to receive your eligibility determination from the USAC to apply. However, you will not be able to receive any funding until the USAC determines you are eligible. Our advice is to complete your application as soon as you can because needs are urgent and the funds are limited.

Application Process

If you’ve made it this far, nice job! You’re almost there. The first step toward submitting your application is registering with CORES to obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN).

Go here to set up your CORES account. Once you submit your registration, you’ll receive your FRN. If you’re not sure whether you already have an FRN, you can go to CORES, search for your name, TIN, or other contact-related information, and you’ll be able to find it there.

Once you’ve received your FRN, you are ready to apply! The COVID-19 Telehealth Program application is right here.

Which Applications Will Be Approved?

Every healthcare provider applying for assistance is anxious to know how the FCC will evaluate applications. Keep in mind, that the FCC has a set of goals and objectives it wants the Telehealth Program to achieve, so these will be a top priority. One of these priorities is to support areas that have been affected heavily by COVID-19.

Along with these goals, the FCC will also take into account the conditions to be treated, geographic areas and population served by the applicant, whether or not the area has been suffering from shortages or closures, and what type of access the community has to broadband connections.

Ideally, the $200 million financial packages will be used efficiently, so another factor to keep in mind is the metrics which the applicant will use to measure the impact of the services and devices provided by the program. If you can demonstrate that you will be using the funding for specific and necessary purposes and that you have the ability to monitor and enforce correct use, you will be much better off.

Final Checklist

Make sure you run through these steps in the following order. If you’ve already completed a step, move to the next one.

Make sure you will be using the funds for covered expenses
Make sure your organization falls under the covered categories
Register with SAM
Register with USAC (alternatively, submit Form 460 via email here)
Apply on USAC Portal or submit
Set up your CORES account and obtain your FRN
Complete your application

Still Stuck?

The FCC has several resources to help you apply for assistance.

Instructions for using the online application portal
A video webinar on how to use the application portal
Further guidance for the application process

Alleva Can Help During COVID-19

Hopefully, we were able to synthesize the information and make it easier to understand. There are a lot of moving parts, and it’s important to stay informed in order to make sure the COVID-19 Telehealth Program funding is used properly and effectively.

At Alleva, we are here to help the helpers, those who are essential in moments like these, and who need help taking medical care to a virtual atmosphere. Due to the pandemic, a lot of telehealth services have not been able to acclimate properly with the surge in demand. We have specialized in offering user-friendly Telehealth platforms that aim to cultivate virtual connections between provider and patient.

If you are a healthcare provider and you need help transitioning to an online or virtual treatment system, we can provide the assistance you need while simultaneously making compliance and organization easier.

Request a free demo today and spend more time serving those in your care.