USACRural Health CareTelecommunications Program
Step 6: Invoice USAC

Step 5

Step 6: Invoice USAC

Invoicing Process

Invoicing is a joint process between you and your service provider using the FCC Form 469 (Invoice and Request for Disbursement Form, FCC Form 467/ HCP Support Schedule (HSS), and the Telecommunications (Telecom) Program invoice. Once you receive a bill from the service provider, you can create an invoice for the services received using the methods below.

Invoicing for FY2024

The FCC Form 469 is the new invoicing form for the Telecommunication (Telecom) Program. Per FCC Order 23-6, it’s aligned with the FCC Form 463, the invoicing form used for the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Program. One key difference is that the service provider will submit the FCC Form 469 in RHC Connect. Once the service provider submits the form, you will receive an email alerting you of the submission, and you will officially submit the FCC Form 469 to USAC by certifying and signing the form. For Funding Year (FY) 2024, the FCC Form 467, the Healthcare Provider Support Schedule (HSS), and the Telecom invoice will be eliminated in the Telecom Program. For information and resources about the FCC Form 469, visit the Welcome to RHC Connect – FCC Form 469 webpage.

Invoicing for FY2023

Once you submit your FCC Form 467, USAC will send you and your service provider an HCP Support Schedule (HSS) and your service provider can begin the invoicing process. There is no form name or number for the Telecom program invoicing process.

HCP Support Schedule (HSS) Contents

USAC sends the HSS to you and the service provider after processing the FCC Form 467. A sample support schedule is available for download. The HSS includes the following information:

  • Funding year
  • HCP number
  • Funding Request Number (FRN)
  • Billing Account Number (BAN)
  • HCP name
  • 498/SPIN ID and service provider name
  • Supported service
  • Support start date
  • Support end date, and
  • Support amount: per month ($) and total support for the funding year.
When You Receive the HSS

Once you receive the HSS, review it to ensure the following:

  • The 498 ID is correct.
  • The service being supported was actually working and being billed for the time period on the HSS.
  • The BAN listed on the schedule is the same BAN attached to the service and HCP location or HCP mailing organization and address.

If there is an error or you have any questions about the information on the HSS, email RHC-Assist@usac.org with the FRN number in the subject line. As a reminder, if services were delayed or not turned on it is the responsibility of the HCP to submit an FCC Form 467 revision in My Portal.

After reviewing the HSS for accuracy, the service provider will credit your account. You should decide how the service provider will apply the credit (e.g., whether it will apply the credit automatically to your bill on a monthly basis, provide a check at the end of service, etc.) when you sign your service contract. Service providers are responsible for crediting the HCP’s account in a timely manner. After applying the credit, the service provider will log in to My Portal and submit an online invoice. USAC processes the invoice within 24 hours of submission. As a reminder, please be sure to respond to any invoicing Information Requests by the 14-calendar day deadline listed in the email.

Invoice Filing Deadline

The invoice filing deadline is four months (120 days) from the service delivery deadline or the date of a revised FCL approving a post-commitment request or a successful appeal of a previously denied or reduced funding request, whichever comes later. The service delivery deadline is June 30 of the funding year for which program support is sought. HCPs must submit their FCC Form 467 to initiate the invoicing process and service providers must submit their online invoice to USAC by October 28, 2021 or funds will not be disbursed.

On April 8, 2021, the FCC released Order DA 21-394, which extends FY2020 invoice filing deadline by 120 days for all RHC program applicants. Read more about the administrative waivers granted by this order.

USAC Invoice Payment Cycle for Service Providers

USAC pays invoices from service providers in batches on the 6th and the 21st day of each month (except weekends and holidays, where the payment batch date would fall on the next business day). Invoices that USAC approves are typically processed in the upcoming payment batch. Service providers can expect payment of the approved invoice to arrive in their bank accounts three (3) business days after the payment batch date.

Invoice Status Report

The online invoice status report is sent to the service provider point of contact (POC) within 24 hours of invoice submission. The report explains which invoiced line items were accepted and denied (if any), and includes the:

  • Date USAC processed the invoice,
  • Number of records processed,
  • Number of records approved, and
  • Total support amount approved for the invoice.
  • A code indicating whether the invoice was approved (A) or denied (D1 – D9H)

If you have any questions concerning invoice denial codes or invoice submissions, contact RHC-Assist@usac.org or the RHC Customer Service Center at (800) 453-1546 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday before submitting your invoice. Use the RHC Customer Service Center Tip Sheet to learn about what the RHC Customer Service Center can and cannot help you with.