August 2022

Source: FCCNews

Media Contact:
Anne Veigle
[email protected]

FCC CREATES ‘YOUR HOME, YOUR INTERNET’ PILOT TO RAISE
AWARENESS OF AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM FOR
HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVING FEDERAL HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Outreach to Include Helping Households with Application Process
—
WASHINGTON, August 5, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today adopted
an Order creating the “Your Home, Your Internet” pilot program designed to raise awareness
of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) among households receiving federal housing
assistance. The one-year pilot program will test the best methods for helping consumers
receiving federal housing assistance through the Department of Housing and Urban
Development learn about the Affordable Connectivity Program and enroll in the program.

“Broadband is a necessity for American households, yet many HUD-assisted families lack
access to reliable, affordable, high-speed internet,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.
“HUD is committed to ensuring that the people we serve have sufficient internet access for
work, school, health care, and other needs. FCC’s new pilot program will make it easier for
HUD-assisted families to access reliable and affordable high-speed internet, and I look forward
to working with Chairwoman Rosenworcel and the Commission to get more families online.”

The “Your Home, Your Internet” pilot program features enhancements that are designed to
help ease the application and enrollment process for federal housing assistance recipients.
State and local housing authorities, Tribal Designated Housing Entities, and other state,
regional, or local government entities, as well as community partners are eligible to apply for
the pilot. Pilot program applicants will be able to submit proposals for specialized ACP
outreach efforts, including promotional materials that are directed to federal housing assistance
recipients and organizations. Pilot participants also are encouraged to propose application
assistance tools which the Commission will evaluate. In addition, the Commission has set aside
up to $10 million to support pilot-related activities. The Wireline Competition Bureau will
provide more guidance on how to participate in the pilot program.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides a monthly discount of up to $30 per month
(and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands) as well as a one-time $100
discount toward a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Under the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, a household may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program if at least one
member of the household meets the qualifications for participation in the Lifeline program.
Households that receive federal housing assistance are eligible for Lifeline and the Affordable
Connectivity Program.

Action by the Commission August 5, 2022 by Third Report and Order (FCC 22-65).
Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.
Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioner Starks issuing separate statements.
WC Docket No. 21-450

###
Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / Twitter: @FCC / www.fcc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official
action. See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974

Source:  ATA

WASHINGTON, DC, AUGUST 4, 2022 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) today announced that it will convene hospital systems and medical practices, telehealth solution providers, patient advocacy leaders, policymakers, and other groups to commemorate the second-annual Telehealth Awareness Week™ taking place September 18-24, 2022. During the week, the ATA and a diverse coalition of stakeholders will host a series of events, publish educational resources, and highlight the value of telehealth in a hybrid care model that includes in-person and virtual care.

“Building on the important progress we have achieved to expand access to urgently-needed telehealth and virtual care services over the past two-plus years, Telehealth Awareness Week 2022 presents a critical opportunity to provide all communities with the resources they need to better understand the many ways that telehealth improves access to safe, quality care,” said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the ATA. “We have great momentum and support for telehealth – from the halls of government and the halls of clinical practice to board rooms and living rooms – and now we must leverage the right resources and create the right frameworks to support a successful hybrid model that offers both in-person and virtual care. One thing is now perfectly clear: Telehealth. Is. Health.”

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Source: AMA

By:  Kevin B. O’Reilly

What’s the news: The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for a bipartisan bill that extends Medicare telehealth payment and regulatory flexibilities through the end of 2024. The House’s 416–12 vote last week is a manifestation of the massive support among lawmakers, patients and physicians to build on the gains of telehealth seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure it continues to be an accessible mode of care for the long haul.

Supporting telehealth is an essential component of the AMA Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians. You took care of the nation. It’s time for the nation to take care of you. It’s time to rebuild. And the AMA is ready.

Telehealth is critical to the future of health care, which is why the AMA continues to lead the charge to aggressively expand telehealth policy, research and resources to ensure physician practice sustainability and fair payment.

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Source: Live5 WCSC

By Michal Higdon

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The state’s Broadband Office is using some new technology to try and get more South Carolinians access to internet – namely households with school-aged children.

It’s something that became pretty popular after the war in Ukraine – Starlink devices from Elon Musk’s Space X company.

“When SpaceX launches the Falcon 9 rocket, and a lot of us have seen that happen, they actually deploy about 40 satellites every launch,” Jim Stritzinger, the Director for South Carolina’s Broadband Office, says.

Those satellites form what SpaceX calls a constellation which creates internet service down on the ground.

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Source: Healthcare Finance

By: Susan Morse, Executive Editor

From broadened access to care to removing geographic and originating-site restrictions, the AMA wants flexibilities to be made permanent.

The House passed a bill Wednesday that extends telehealth flexibilities under Medicare that were initially authorized during the public health emergency of COVID-19.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4040, Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2022. It now moves to the Senate for approval.

The American Medical Association applauded the House’s passage of the bill, which keeps telehealth flexibilities through 2024.

The bill would allow federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to serve as the distant site, that is, the location of the healthcare practitioner; it would allow beneficiaries to receive telehealth services at any site, regardless of type or location; it would allow any type of practitioner to furnish telehealth services, subject to approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and it would continue coverage for audio-only evaluation and management and behavioral health services.

WHY THIS MATTERS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services allowed these flexibilities during the public health emergency to allow patients to receive care virtually when they were unable to get care in-person.

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