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2021 FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program Funding Rules

2021 FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program Funding Rules

What to Know About Round 2 of the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has unveiled the guidelines for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program, with nearly $250 million in funds available to help non-profit healthcare organizations build and scale their telehealth programs.

Here’s what to know about key deadlines, eligibility standards, and the application process.

Application Filling Window

The FCC will imminently launch a three-week timeline before the closing of the program’s application window.

First, the agency will provide at least two weeks’ notice prior to the opening of the window. The application window will be open for seven days.

FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program Eligibility

The FCC has announced that applicants will be evaluated according to the following points system:

  • Up to 15 points
    • Areas hardest hit by COVID-19
    • Low-income areas
  • 15 points
    • Round 1 unfunded applicants
    • Tribal communities
  • 10 points
    • Critical access hospitals
    • Federal qualified health centers/federally qualified health center look-alikes/disproportionate share hospitals
  • Up to 10 points
    • Areas with healthcare provider shortages
  • 5 points
    • Round 2 new applicants
    • Rural counties

After no funding was awarded to Hawaii, Alaska, or Montana in Round 1, the FCC has pledged to ensure an “equitable nationwide distribution of funding” to recipients in all states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

Previous funding recipients are eligible to apply and may receive up to $1 million in funding. USAC will determine applicants’ eligibility utilizing FCC Form 460.

Eligible Devices

Only telecommunications and information services and connected devices (including the TytoCare device) are eligible for FCC funding. The agency will not provide funding support for personnel, marketing, administrative, training, or other indirect costs.

Partner with TytoCare to Win FCC Funds

The launch of the program’s second round comes one year after the FCC inaugurated the program’s first round, providing funding for health systems to implement affordable and quickly scalable telehealth programs amid the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Among the funding winners were more than 30 TytoCare partners – including schools, non-profit hospitals, and health centers in underserved communities – who received $500,000 in funding on average.

Download our FCC e-book to learn more about how TytoCare has already helped dozens of organizations overcome funding obstacles to unlock telehealth success.

If you’re interested in discovering more or need assistance in preparing your organization’s application, contact us and speak directly with our team.