In a significant move to advance healthcare accessibility, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched the Connected Care Pilot Program, detailed in Report and Order FCC 20-44 on April 2, 2020. This three-year initiative earmarks up to $100 million from the Universal Service Fund (USF) to support eligible health care providers in delivering connected care services. The program’s core objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of USF resources in bolstering connected care services across the nation.
The Connected Care Pilot Program is designed to alleviate the financial burden on selected pilot projects, covering 85% of eligible expenses. This includes crucial broadband connectivity, essential network equipment such as routers that facilitate broadband service, and information services necessary for delivering connected care to patients. The FCC prioritized pilot projects demonstrating a commitment to serving low-income Americans and veterans. Furthermore, the program strategically targets critical public health areas, including public health epidemics, opioid dependency, mental health conditions, maternal health and high-risk pregnancy, and chronic or recurring illnesses. By channeling funds into these areas, the initiative aims to extend connected care services to rural, Tribal, and underserved communities throughout the United States, ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
Application Deadline and Key Dates
It’s important to note that the application window for the Connected Care Pilot Program has now closed, with the deadline being December 7, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. ET. While new applications are no longer being accepted, the program is actively moving forward with the selected projects.
Understanding the Selection Process and Next Steps
Infographic outlining the Connected Care Pilot Program application process.
For those pilot projects that have been selected to participate in this groundbreaking initiative, the next phase involves utilizing forms from the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) program, with minor adjustments, to facilitate the competitive bidding process, funding requests, and invoice submissions. Successful applicants are strongly encouraged to become familiar with the HCF program forms, which will be instrumental in navigating the subsequent steps of competitive bidding, funding acquisition, and invoicing procedures.
All necessary forms and supporting documentation are to be submitted through My Portal, the online application management system of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), specifically designated for the CCPP program. Access to My Portal was granted to selected pilot projects upon their initial submission of the FCC Form 460, which listed the sites participating in their respective projects.
A critical requirement for selected pilot projects is to conduct a fair and open competitive bidding process. This process ensures transparency and allows for the selection of the most suitable and cost-effective services and/or equipment. To initiate this, pilot projects must define their service needs and establish bid evaluation criteria by completing the FCC Form 461 (Request for Services Form).
Upon approval of the FCC Form 461, it will be publicly posted on the USAC website for a minimum of 28 days. This posting period allows service providers to review the requested services and prepare bids. All posted services are accessible to service providers for review and download in the Open Data section of the USAC public website. Service providers interested in fulfilling the service requirements will then submit bids based on the evaluation criteria outlined in the posted FCC Form 461. Submission of the FCC Form 461 is mandatory unless specific competitive bidding exemptions apply, which are detailed on the CCPP Competitive Bidding Exemptions page.
Following the conclusion of the competitive bidding phase, pilot projects will proceed to select the most cost-effective service provider and subsequently submit an FCC Form 462 (Funding Request Form) to USAC. This form includes specific pricing and service details for the requested funding through the CCPP.
USAC will then review the funding request and issue a Funding Commitment Letter (FCL) to both the pilot project and the selected service provider. This letter will specify the committed funding amount under the CCPP.
After the provision of eligible services and/or equipment, both the pilot project and the service provider will need to certify and submit invoicing forms (FCC Form 463), along with all required supporting documentation, to USAC. Upon approval of the submitted invoices, the service provider will receive reimbursement for the costs of the eligible services and/or equipment provided and will subsequently credit the pilot project’s account.
For a more detailed overview of the Connected Care Pilot Program, the kickoff webinar is available for viewing:
Download the webinar slides for a comprehensive visual guide.
Defining “Connected Care Services” and Eligibility
The FCC defines “connected care services” as a specialized form of telehealth. It leverages broadband internet access service-enabled technologies to deliver remote medical, diagnostic, patient-centered, and treatment-related services directly to patients outside of traditional healthcare facilities. This includes providing care to patients in their mobile locations or private residences.
For further clarification on eligible services, refer to the Public Notice DA 20-1315 released by the FCC on November 5, 2020. More information about the specific services eligible for support can be found on the eligible services page.
Additional Resources
