RHC Service Providers Process
The Rural Health Care (RHC) program provides funding to eligible health care providers for telecommunications and broadband services needed to deliver health care.
Browse the description of the RHC program Get Started webpage for an overview of the program and the sequence of activities your potential customers (referred to as “applicants”) must complete to receive funding.
You should also:
Review Your Services and Equipment for Eligibility
To participate in either the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) or Telecommunications (Telecom) Program, a service provider may be any provider of equipment, facilities, or services that are considered eligible services in either program. Please keep in mind that eligible services differ in each program. It is important for both the service provider and the healthcare provider (HCP) seeking services to understand which services are eligible for program support. Many commercially available telecommunications and data transmission services are eligible for RHC program discounts, as is certain equipment that makes these services functional.
For more information about eligible services, review the HCF Program’s Examples of Common Products and Services tip sheet and the Telecom Program’s Examples of Common Services tip sheet.
Applicants may receive funding from both the HCF and Telecom Programs, however Federal Communication Commission (FCC) rules prohibit duplicative funding for the same service for the same site(s) from more than one FCC program.
Understand Applicant Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for discounts, applicants must meet the FCC’s definition of a rural HCP.
The Telecom Program is open only to individual HCP sites and all sites must be located in a rural area as defined by FCC rules.
In the HCF Program, eligible HCPs can apply as individual sites or as a member of a majority rural consortium.
For more information, use the Determine Eligibility of Your Site (HCF) and Determine Eligibility of Your Site (Telecom) webpages to understand what kinds of entities are eligible for RHC program support.
Learn How to Participate as a Service Provider
There are five steps for service providers in both the HCF and Telecom Programs.
Step 1: Obtain a 498 ID/SPIN
Complete the FCC Form 498 to provide USAC with information about your company and receive a 498 ID, also known as a Service Provider Identification Number (SPIN).
Step 2: Respond to Applicant Bid Requests
Review applicants’ posted FCC Forms 461 and/or 465, and any accompanying documents, and respond to their requests for service.
Step 3: Sign a Service Agreement with Applicant
If you are selected as the applicant’s most cost-effective solution, you can sign a contract or enter into an agreement with them.
Step 4: Start Services
After the HCP’s funding request is approved, USAC sends a Funding Commitment Letter (FCL). Carefully review this information for accuracy.
Step 5: Invoice USAC
USAC pays invoices to the service provider. Please note that the invoicing processes differ in the Telecom and HCF Programs.
The material on these webpages is provided for general information only and should not be relied upon or used as the sole basis for making decisions without consulting the RHC program rules, orders, and other primary sources of information. Applicants and service providers are ultimately responsible for knowing and complying with all RHC program rules and procedures.