Rural Health Care Outreach Conference Call Minutes
Thursday, August 9, 2001

RHCD reminded service providers to compare billing telephone numbers (BTNs) on invoices sent to RHCD to support schedules sent from RHCD, to make sure the numbers are identical before invoicing USAC. If there is a problem, contact Karen Mogensen at 1-800-229-5476 before sending the invoice.

When invoicing for a year of support, list the last month shown on the support schedule, not the first month. Thus, an invoice for full year support in Funding Year 3 would use June 2001, not July 2000.

RHCD is still accepting comments and suggested changes on the application forms to be used for Funding Year 5. Since many changes are planned for the forms for Funding Year 6, RHCD does not anticipate implementing many changes in Year 5, but is open to suggestions. Future potential changes in the forms include a reduction in the required information from applicants and service providers, and the introduction of electronic signatures on Forms 465 and 467 to expedite the application process.

Year 3 466/468 packets should be received by RHCD by September 30, 2001 so applicants can start to receive support. If the 466/468 packet is not submitted, applicants will not receive support. In addition, RHCD would like to complete Funding Year 3 as soon as possible, to allow full resources to be devoted to Year 4 processing and earlier opening of the Year 5 filing window.

A training session for service providers is being discussed, possibly to be held in conjunction with a Schools and Libraries training session to be held in the Fall. Details will be forthcoming and will posted on the RHCD website.

Service providers are reminded to supply documentation of urban rates with Form 468s they send to health care providers. E-mails are not acceptable documentation, but a print or electronic image of a web page with the necessary information and an address that RHCD can verify as belonging to a telecommunications carrier, are acceptable. Alternatively, the information may be sent via fax or postal mail on carrier letterhead.

Questions?
Call our toll free number 1-800-229-5476 8am-8pm (EST) Monday-Friday.