Telehealth, Precision Agriculture, and Aging Share a Single Dependency: Reliable Connection

Medicare telehealth flexibilities that enabled rural patients to access specialists remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic remain temporary, and Congress has not acted to make them permanent. The Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion five-year federal initiative, cannot be used to pay for broadband installation or monthly internet costs at individual homes, despite the program's stated goals including improving access to broadband-enabled telehealth.