The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a significant initiative to advance healthcare accessibility and delivery across the nation: the Health Care Pilot Program. Officially established in the Report and Order FCC 20-44 on April 2, 2020, this three-year program commits up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund (USF). The core objective? To alleviate the financial burdens on eligible health care providers (HCPs) associated with providing connected care services, and to thoroughly evaluate the potential of USF resources in bolstering these vital services.
This innovative Health Care Pilot Program is designed to fund carefully selected projects, covering 85% of eligible costs. These costs encompass crucial elements like broadband connectivity, essential network equipment (such as routers vital for broadband service functionality), and information services—all indispensable for delivering connected care services directly to patients. The FCC prioritized pilot projects demonstrating a clear commitment to serving low-income Americans and veterans. Furthermore, preference was given to projects tackling pressing public health challenges, including epidemics, opioid dependency, mental health conditions, maternal health and high-risk pregnancies, and chronic illnesses – all central focuses of the Pilot Program. By strategically funding these initiatives, the program aims to extend the reach of connected care services to rural, Tribal, and traditionally underserved communities throughout the United States.
Application Deadline and Key Dates
It’s important to note that the application window for the Health Care Pilot Program has now closed, with the deadline being December 7, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Currently, the program is in the selection and implementation phase.
Selection Announcements and Project Status
Connected Care Application Process Infographic
Next Steps for Selected Health Care Pilot Program Applicants
Successful applicants to the Health Care Pilot Program will utilize the established processes and forms from the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) program. These resources, with minor adjustments, will guide them through initiating competitive bidding, requesting funding, and submitting necessary invoices. It is highly recommended that selected projects familiarize themselves with the HCF program forms to streamline the processes for competitive bidding, funding requests, and invoicing.
All required forms and supporting documentation are managed through My Portal, USAC’s dedicated online application management system for the CCPP program. Access to My Portal was granted to selected pilot projects upon their initial submission of the FCC Form 460, which detailed participating sites in their project.
A mandatory step for all selected projects under the Health Care Pilot Program is to conduct a fair and open competitive bidding process. This ensures transparency and allows for the selection of the most appropriate and cost-effective services and equipment. To initiate this, projects must define their service needs and establish bid evaluation criteria by completing the FCC Form 461 (Request for Services Form).
Following FCC Form 461 approval, it will be publicly posted on the USAC website for a minimum of 28 days. This public posting allows service providers to review the requirements and prepare bids. Only after this period can projects select a service provider and finalize a contract. All posted service requests are accessible to service providers on the Open Data section of the USAC website. Service providers interested in bidding will respond, outlining how they meet the project’s evaluation criteria. Submission of FCC Form 461 is obligatory unless specific CCPP Competitive Bidding Exemptions apply.
Upon completion of competitive bidding, the next step is to select the most cost-effective service provider and submit an FCC Form 462 (Funding Request Form) to USAC. This form details the specific pricing and service information for the funding being requested through the Health Care Pilot Program.
USAC will then review the funding request and issue a Funding Commitment Letter (FCL) to both the applicant and their chosen service provider. This FCL formally indicates the committed funding amount under the CCPP.
After the provision of eligible services and/or equipment, both the healthcare provider and the service provider will need to certify and submit invoicing forms (FCC Form 463), along with all necessary supporting documentation, to USAC. Once approved, the service provider will receive reimbursement for the costs of the eligible services and/or equipment, and the healthcare provider’s account will be credited accordingly.
For deeper insights into the Health Care Pilot Program, the kickoff webinar is a valuable resource.
Download the webinar slides for a comprehensive overview.
Defining “Connected Care Services” and Eligibility
The FCC defines “connected care services” within the Health Care Pilot Program as “a subset of telehealth that uses broadband Internet access service-enabled technologies to deliver remote medical, diagnostic, patient-centered, and treatment-related services directly to patients outside of traditional brick and mortar medical facilities—including specifically to patients at their mobile location or residence.”
Further clarification on eligible services is provided in the Public Notice DA 20-1315, released by the FCC on November 5, 2020. Detailed information about eligible services is readily available online.
Additional Resources
