The Rural Health Care program provides funding to eligible health care providers for telecommunications services, including broadband, necessary for the provision of health care. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of health care available to patients in rural communities by ensuring that eligible health care providers have access to affordable telecommunications services.

The program provides discounts on the purchase of telecommunications services by eligible rural health care providers. Paid for by the Universal Service Fund, these discounts result in rates for service that are nearly the same as those in urban areas, where telecommunications rates typically are lower. Funding is capped at $400 million annually.

To provide broadband networks in rural areas where service is lacking, the Commission launched the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, which provides funding for up to 85 percent of the costs associated with: (1) the construction of a state or regional broadband network and the advanced telecommunications and information services provided over that network; (2) connecting to Internet 2 or National LambdaRail (NLR); and (3) connecting to the public Internet.

HEADLINES

• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). Comments sought on the health care delivery elements of the national broadband plan. The notice also seeks input relating to the universal service rural health care support mechanism and the rural health care Pilot Program, specifically as such programs may assist in the deployment and adoption of broadband services. Comments are due December 4, 2009. DA 09-2413 (11/12/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 06-122). North Carolina Telehealth Network: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request filed by the North Carolina TeleHealth Network for an extension of the June 30, 2010 deadline to file funding commitment requests under the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program. Comments are due December 2, 2009 and reply comments are due December 17, 2009. DA 09-2362 (11/2/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 06-122). Action Communications, Inc.: Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment a petition filed by Action Communications, Inc. (Action) for a waiver of section 54.611 of the Commission's rules, which requires USAC to reimburse any monies due a carrier from the universal service rural health care mechanism only after an offset is credited against that carrier's universal service obligations. Action also requests that the Commission grant an expedited stay of USAC's decision which would allow Action to continue to receive monthly rural health care support disbursements pending the Commission's review of the instant waiver request. Comments are due November 16, 2009 and reply comments are due November 23, 2009. DA 09-2356 (11/2/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). Rural Health Care Pilot Program quarterly reports:  In this Public Notice, WCB reminds Rural Health Care Pilot Program participants that quarterly reports are due October 30.  In addition, we remind participants of specific information which must be included in the reports. DA 09-2124 (9/28/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Order (WC Docket No. 02-60). TeleQuality Communications, Inc.: WCB grants a request by TeleQuality Communications, Inc. (TeleQuality) to waive section 54.611 of the Commission’s rules concerning reimbursement for services provided under the universal service rural health care support mechanism. We find that TeleQuality has demonstrated that good cause exists to waive this rule because, absent waiver, TeleQuality will be unable to sustain its operations and will be unable to provide discounted telecommunications services to the rural health care providers it serves. In this order, WCB also directs USAC to make an initial reimbursement payment no later than 10 calendar days from release of this order to TeleQuality for the current rural health care support payments to which it is entitled without deducting any universal service contributions that TeleQuality may owe. USAC shall also remit to TeleQuality any additional subsequent rural health care payments on a bi-monthly basis. DA 09-1807 (8/13/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Order (WC Docket No. 02-60). Juniata Valley Network and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a merger request from two participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, the Juniata Valley Network (JVN) and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Alliance and its designated agent, Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Resource Development (collectively PMHA). DA 09-1782 (8/12/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Order (WC Docket No. 02-60). North Carolina TeleHealth Network, Albemarle Health, Western Carolina University, and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina: The Wireline Competition Bureau grants a merger request from four participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, NCTN, Albemarle, WCB and UHS, to merge their respective Pilot Program projects and designate NCTN as the successor to Albemarle, WCU, and UHS. DA 09-1696 (7/31/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request by TeleQuality Communications, seeking a waiver of section 54.611 of the Commission’s rules, which requires that USAC reimburse any monies due a carrier from the universal service rural health care support mechanism only after an offset is credited against that carrier’s universal service support obligations. TeleQuality also requests that the Commission grant an expedited stay of USAC’s decision, allowing TeleQuality to continue to receive bi-monthly rural health care support disbursements pending the Commission’s review of the instant waiver request. Comments are due June 19, 2009 and reply comments are due June 26, 2009. DA 09-1252 (6/5/09). Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 06-122). Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on requests for review filed by Verizon and Hospital Network Management, seeing reversal of USAC’s decision to seek recovery from Verizon of universal service rural health care funds relating to services it performed for HNM. Comments are due July 6, 2009 and reply comments are due July 20, 2009. DA 09-1265 (6/5/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). Rural Health Care Pilot Program North Carolina Merger: WCB seeks comment on a request to merge four participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program: the North Carolina TeleHealth Network (NCTN); Albemarle Health (Albemarle); Western Carolina University (WCU); and University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina (UHS). Comments are due June 19, 2009 and reply comments are due June 26, 2009. DA 09-1246 (6/5/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). Rural Health Care Pilot Program Pennsylvania Merger: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge two participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program, Juniata Valley Network and Pennsylvania Mountains Healthcare Resource Development. Comments are due May 20, 2009 and reply comments are due May 27, 2009. DA 09-1018 (5/6/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Order (WC Docket No. 02-60). Rural Health Care Pilot Program Texas Projects Merger: In this order, the Wireline Competition Bureau grants a request from two participants in the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, the Texas Healthcare Network (THN) and the Texas Health Information Network Collaborative (THINC), to merge their respective Pilot Program projects and designate THINC as the successor to THN’s Pilot Program project. DA 09-838 (4/16/09) Word | PDF
  
  
• Public Notice (WC Docket No. 02-60). Texas Healthcare Network and Texas Health Information Network Collaborative: The Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment on a request to merge two participants in the universal service Rural Health Care Pilot Program, Texas Healthcare Network (THN) and Texas Health Information Network Collaborative (THINC). Comments are due by March 20, 2009 and reply comments are due by March 24, 2009. DA 09-578 (3/13/09) Word | PDF