Ramona Midkiff

               
Pictured: Riley Van Coutren                                       Pictured: Tara Stokes

Written by:  Kathy Rhoad, Director of Public Relations & Program Development

BAMBERG, SC—Palmetto Care Connections (PCC) Chief Executive Officer Kathy Schwarting
announces two new staff members: Riley Van Coutren, Technical Analyst, and Tara Stokes, Digital
Literacy Coordinator.

PCC Technical Analyst Riley Van Coutren brings a variety of organizational, computer,
communications and customer service skills to the team. Her prior experience includes serving as a
Legal Assistant at a law firm specializing in bankruptcy. Previously, she was a Broker/Dispatcher for a
worldwide shipping company.

Van Coutren is a graduate of Lexington High School and is currently working toward an
Associate of Arts and Science degree at Midlands Technical College in West Columbia.

Digital Literacy Coordinator Tara Stokes joins PCC with more than 20 years of health care
experience. A native of Bamberg, S.C., she has worked in rural health care settings throughout her
career. Her previous positions include Office Manager for an independent Obstetrics and Gynecology
practice, Medical Staff Coordinator at a regional health care system, and Medical Staff Coordinator,
Credentials Coordinator, Rehabilitation Services Assistant and Registrar for a rural hospital.

Stokes received a Medical Office Assistant degree from Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical
College.

“The addition of these two talented individuals is a testament to Palmetto Care Connections’
growth. COVID-19 has created an explosion in telehealth services and uncovered a tremendous need
for internet access and digital literacy in rural areas” said Kathy Schwarting, PCC Chief Executive
Officer. “On the broadband side of the house, PCC helps health care providers receive up to 65
percent savings on their broadband costs. Riley will be instrumental in helping even more health care
providers receive those broadband savings.”

“Tara will be primarily responsible for assisting with our Digital Literacy Program,” said
Schwarting. ““PCC recently completed Digital Literacy training for 100 seniors aged 60 and older in
rural communities in Allendale, Barnwell, Williamsburg, Clarendon and Lower Richland counties. The
pilot program has proven to be very successful, and we plan to expand the “Palmetto Connect” digital
literacy training statewide for both seniors as well as unemployed individuals in underserved areas
who need digital skills to apply for jobs and enhance daily living.”

Established in 2010, PCC is a non-profit organization that provides technology, broadband,
and telehealth support services to health care providers in rural and underserved areas in S.C. PCC
leads the S.C. health care broadband consortium which facilitates broadband connections for health
care providers throughout the state. PCC co-chairs the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance, along with
the Medical University of South Carolina, serving as an advocate for rural providers and partnering
with organizations to improve health care access and delivery for all South Carolinians.

The National Cooperative of Health Networks Association named PCC as the 2021
Outstanding Health Network of the Year. PCC CEO Kathy Schwarting recently received South
Carolina’s 2021 Community Star award presented by the National Organization of State Offices of
Rural Health.

Today, Palmetto Care Connections announced it is working to help build awareness about the Affordable Connectivity Program, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program.  The new long-term benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households struggling to afford internet service.

The $14 billion Affordable Connectivity Program provides a discount of up to a $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands.  The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider.

A household is eligible if one member of the household meets at least one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines;
• Participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, Federal Public Housing Assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline;
• Participates in one of several Tribal specific programs, such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal Head Start (only households meeting the relevant income qualifying standard) Tribal TANF, or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations;
• Is approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating broadband provider’s existing low-income program.

Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment opened on December 31, 2021. Eligible households can enroll through a participating broadband provider or by (1) going to ACPBenefit.org to submit an online application or print a mail-in application and (2) contacting their preferred participating broadband provider and selecting a plan.  Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at www.fcc.gov/ACP, or by calling 877-384-2575 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET any day of the week.

Source: WSPA Channel 7

by: Janie Bohlmann

GREENWOOD COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – WC Fiber leaders announced this week that the company is expanding a partnership with Greenwood County to bring broadband to more people.

“It’s a daily necessity now for our residents,” said James Bateman, the economic development director for Greenwood County.

Leaders said the COVID-19 pandemic shows the importance of access to internet, as many people started to learn, work, and even visit the doctor, all through their computer.

“It affects everything from education to working from the home, and also telemedicine is something we’re seeing a big spike in,” said Stephen Taylor, who does community relations and economic development for WC Fiber.

The expansion improves existing plans and will bring internet to an additional 2,400 addresses in the county.

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Source: mHealth Intelligence

Source: The State News

The Associated Press

The state House voted unanimously Wednesday to set up a governmental body to develop a statewide plan for broadband internet funding and expansion into unserved and underserved areas of Pennsylvania. The bill, which was sent to the Senate, would set up the independent Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority. It would act as a central point to coordinate grant money in underserved areas. Pennsylvania is in line for at least $100 million in federal money to expand broadband in the state. The federal infrastructure bill also allocated about $37 billion nationally to be doled out based on financial need, including monthly subsidies for the cost of connectivity. The authority that would be set up under the House-passed bill would consist of an 11-member board and have a six-year lifespan, unless extended. Members would be chosen by the governor and legislative leaders. The bill sets minimum broadband speeds to match federal standards.

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Source:  Healthcare IT News

By Craig Settles

Delivering virtual care via community broadband offers big financial and quality-of-life benefits, says our contributing writer, opening avenues to both digital equity and health equity.

Telehealth and community broadband are symbiotic technologies.

Much more than mere video chats, telehealth uses intranets and the internet networks to observe, diagnose, initiate or otherwise medically intervene, administer, monitor, record, and/or report on the continuum of care people receive when ill, injured or wanting to stay well. We can save so much money and time that’s going into healthcare if we take full advantage of the telehealth and telemedicine tools. Public health, in particular, can leverage telehealth to great advantage.

Community broadband, meanwhile, refers to networks owned by towns, cities and counties, local telephone and electrical co-ops, wireless internet service providers (WISPs) and other local ISPs, and public-private partnerships often initiated by municipalities or counties.

But big companies often have high prices, suboptimal service and weak infrastructure, so communities nationwide are building their own. These networks profit the people they serve.

Telehealth united with community broadband has huge financial and quality-of-life benefits. These technologies also open avenues to digital equity and health equity among underserved communities in towns, cities and counties.

Don’t forget, though, that it’s quite difficult to have telehealth without broadband.

Strategically speaking

Let’s break down telehealth into three categories and consider as an example public libraries that decide to offer telehealth in some of their branches.

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Source:  mHealth Intelligence

The Telehealth Extension Act aims to solidify policies that will preserve permanent access to telehealth after the public health emergency ends.

December 10, 2021 – Members of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee have introduced a bipartisan bill that seeks to ensure permanent access to telehealth services.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), who is the chair of the subcommittee, and subcommittee members Devin Nunes (R-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Mike Kelly (R-PA), and David Schweikert (R-AZ) are sponsoring the Telehealth Extension Act.

The bill has been endorsed by several notable telehealth advocates including the National Rural Health Association, the eHealth Initiative, the American Nurses Association, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The legislation aims to lift geographic and site restrictions to allow Medicare beneficiaries to access telehealth no matter where they live. Certain policies limit telehealth access to patients living in rural areas and providers practicing in specific clinics. Waivers helped lift these restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are set to expire when the public health emergency ends.

Permanently eliminating these restrictions would make it easier for all Americans to access telehealth services regardless of their location, according to a press release issued by Doggett’s office.

The bill also incorporates recommendations from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and would extend select COVID-19 emergency telehealth waivers for two years.

The waivers permit Medicare coverage for telehealth services provided by specialty providers including speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.

Further, the temporary extension would allow critical access hospitals to keep providing outpatient behavioral therapy via telehealth and would ensure proper reimbursement for audio-only telehealth services.

“Expanded access to telehealth, permitted by emergency waivers, has transformed healthcare delivery—helping patients connect easily and safely with their physicians in a timely manner. As the pandemic enters an unpredictable new stage and emergency waives may expire, patients and providers should not face a cliff of uncertainty,” Doggett said in the press release.

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By Kathy Rhoad, Director of Public Relations & Program Development, Palmetto Care Connections

BAMBERG, SC—Senior citizens aged 60 years and up from Clarendon County recently completed a three-session digital literacy learning program conducted by Palmetto Care Connections (PCC), a state-wide, non-profit telehealth organization.

The program was part of a pilot program funded by the Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and the S.C. Department on Aging to help 100 seniors who live in rural communities with digital literacy training, a free digital tablet and free cellular service for 12 months.

Senior citizens completed hands-on training using a digital tablet and learned skills such as how to send and receive photos and emails, connect with family and friends using video, search the internet for health information, play mind-stimulating games and connect with their doctor for virtual telehealth appointments. PCC will provide ongoing technical support for the seniors who complete the program.

“COVID-19 has created an explosion in telehealth services and uncovered a tremendous need for internet access and digital literacy in rural areas,” said PCC Chief Executive Officer Kathy Schwarting. “As PCC surveyed rural health care providers, we confirmed that many of the seniors they serve have difficulty using and understanding technology, and many do not have internet access at home. The goal is to connect seniors not only to telehealth, but also to a variety of quality-of-life resources, to combat the social isolation that many seniors have faced during the pandemic.”

“For more than 40 years, Rural LISC has proudly worked to connect communities with resources and access to opportunities that everyone deserves,” said Rural LISC Program Officer Christa Vinson. “PCC’s Digital Inclusion pilot program supports the mission of Rural LISC by providing the physical equipment and technical assistance that this segment of the population needs in order to access services and benefit from an increasingly technical society.”

“The South Carolina Department on Aging works with a network of regional and local organizations to develop and manage services that help seniors remain independent in their homes and in their communities. SCDOA is pleased to be a part of the PCC Digital Inclusion pilot program focusing on seniors in rural areas in five South Carolina counties,” said Kay Hightower, SCDOA Senior Consultant, Outreach and Partnership Building.

“It is our hope that this pilot program will be a model for one approach to closing the digital divide in South Carolina,” said Kathy Schwarting, CEO of Palmetto Care Connections (PCC). “While PCC’s focus has traditionally been on serving rural health care providers with telehealth, broadband and technology resources, we have learned that patients need help in connecting to their health care providers. Residents of rural areas not only need internet access, they need access that is affordable and they need a device and knowledge to connect to resources for a better quality of life.”

Kathleen Gibson of K & H Resource Center in Summerton assisted with coordinating the Clarendon County class. “As a retired educator of 40 years, when the opportunity came to have this course, we jumped on it. The fact that these seniors can navigate the internet, email, selfies and zoom is amazing. These three classes don’t make them experts, but we hope to help maintain their skills and support them with the help of PCC. During COVID, this tablet can connect them to their community and beyond. It’s a matter of survival for a lot of them. I give this program an A++.”

Established in 2010, PCC is a non-profit organization that provides technology, broadband, and telehealth support services to health care providers in rural and underserved areas in S.C. PCC co-chairs the South Carolina Telehealth Alliance, along with the Medical University of South Carolina, serving as an advocate for rural providers and partnering with organizations to improve health care access and delivery for all South Carolinians. The National Cooperative of Health Network Association named Palmetto Care Connections as the 2021 Outstanding Health Network of the Year. PCC CEO Kathy Schwarting recently received South Carolina’s 2021 Community Star award presented by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health.

Source:  WACH Fox 57

by Marcus Flowers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Tri-County Electric Cooperative is investing $12 million to expand broadband service in lower Richland, bringing high-speed internet to many neighborhoods that previously never had access.

“We are excited to see Tri-County investing in Richland County to provide more residents with access to broadband internet,” said County Council Chair Paul Livingston. “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us the importance of having broadband connectivity, and this project will help our community stay better connected.”

On Tuesday, December 7, Richland County City Council approved a fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with Tri-County Electric that will provide a more favorable property tax rate over a 30-year period.

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