Rural Health Care Program: Solutions to Connect Our Rural Communities

Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition
April 20, 2017
11 am - 12 pm EDT
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/ea6285b466399e148c34be5db4a05ad8

The Rural Health Care Program has reached a fiscal cliff. Funding requests for 2016 exceeded the program's $400 million cap, and USAC has not decided whether or how to grant applications filed in the most recent funding window. This could result in flash cuts or reductions for current participants. SHLB filed an emergency letter with ten Telehealth Networks and is currently urging the Commission to take immediate steps to provide interim relief. This is necessary to prevent rural health clinics from losing their broadband connections. Join our panelists as they discuss the importance of the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, telemedicine, and other steps we can take to improve the health of rural communities.

Jeff Mitchell (former Director of RHC Program and currently Of Counsel at Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez & Sachs, LLP) will outline the RHC Program and solutions to prevent rural health clinics from losing funding. Kathy Wibberly (Director of the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center) will discuss the importance of telemedicine and the RHC Program's impact. Ally Orwig (Project Coordinator at Indiana Rural Health Association) will then provide the perspective of a telehealth network. John Windhausen (Executive Director, SHLB Coalition) will moderate the discussion.

Follow along online by tweeting at @SHLBCoalition and following the hashtag #Grow2Gig