COVID-19 Telehealth Program

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted the $200 million COVID-19 Telehealth Program in a Report and Order released April 2, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. From April 16, 2020 through July 8, 2020, the FCC fully obligated the $200 million Congress appropriated under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The FCC issued awards for 539 applications to help health care providers (HCPs) provide telehealth services to patients at their homes or mobile locations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In December 2020, as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, Congress appropriated $249.95 million in additional funding for the program. In February 2021, the FCC adopted a Report and Order expanding the responsibilities of USAC to include the administration of the program. On March 30, 2021, the FCC released the Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, which launched Round Two of the program by adopting additional requirements and processes to improve program administration, implement congressional direction, and award the additional $249.95 million. Applications for Round Two were accepted from April 29, 2021 through May 6, 2021, and 447 awardees received funding.