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Rural Health Care Program
Program Overview
Georgia Partnership for Telehealth
March 16, 2012
www.usac.org/rhc 2
USAC, the Universal Service Fund (USF), and the FCC
The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) administers the Universal Service Fund (USF) on behalf of and under the auspices of the FCC
Rural Health Care
($80 million)
High Cost($4 billion)
Low Income($1.3 billion)
Schools and Libraries
($2.25 billion)
www.usac.org/rhc 4
• Pilot Program (closed to new applicants) supports 85% of the cost of broadband networks.
• Primary Program provides discounts for telecommunications services and Internet access for rural health care providers (HCPs)
The RHC Program
Overview
www.usac.org/rhc 5
• For telecommunications services, RHC funds the difference between the urban and rural rates
• For Internet access, RHC funds a straight 25% discount off the rural rate
Primary Program Basics
The RHC Program
www.usac.org/rhc 6
• Connectivity to:
• Telephone service
• Internet access
• Telecommunications services
• Wireless services
Must be used for the provision of health care
What does the RHC program fund?
The RHC Program
www.usac.org/rhc 7
• Ethernet
• T1
• Fiber
• Satellite service
• MPLS
• Redundant circuits
• DS3
• Internet
• Telephone
• DSL
Partial List of Eligible Services
Eligibility
Additional eligible services are listed on the RHC website
www.usac.org/rhc 8
1. Eligible location (rural)2. Eligible status (non-profit or public)3. Eligible organization type
Three criteria to be deemed eligible
Eligibility
www.usac.org/rhc 9
• Determined by FCC definition of rural
1. Eligible Location
Eligibility
2. Eligible Status
• Non-profit OR• Public
www.usac.org/rhc 10
• Not-for-profit hospitals• Rural health clinics• Community mental health
centers• Local health departments or
agencies• Post-secondary educational
institutions offering health care instruction, teaching hospitals, and medical schools
• Community health centers or health centers providing health care to migrants
• Dedicated emergency departments of rural for-profit hospitals
• Consortia of HCPs consisting of rural not-for-profit hospitals
• Part-time eligible entities located in facilities that are ineligible
3. Eligible Organization Type
Eligibility
www.usac.org/rhc 11
Eligible Health Care Providers by Type
Post secondary inst: 1%
Community health center:
8%
Local health dept or
agency: 9%
Community mental health
center: 7%
Not-for-profit hos-pital: 29%
Rural Health
Clinic: 46%
Emergency Dept: < 1%
www.usac.org/rhc 12
1. Health Care Provider’s eligibility is determined
2. HCP requests services, and Service Providers (SPs) provide bids for the HCP to evaluate (1st Form: 465)
3. Once HCP has selected services/service providers, HCP notifies RHC of selection (2nd Form: 466/466-A)
4. Once approved for support, HCP notifies RHC that services have been received (3rd Form: 467)
Four Steps for Health Care Providers:
The RHC Program
www.usac.org/rhc 13
1. Eligible location (rural)2. Eligible status (non-profit or public)3. Eligible organization type
Three criteria to be deemed eligible
First Step: Eligibility
www.usac.org/rhc 14
Description of Services Requested and Certification Form
• First form filed by the HCP to initiate program participation
• Certifies that the HCP meets eligibility requirements
• Used to request bids from service providers for eligible services
What is the Form 465?
Second Step: Form 465
www.usac.org/rhc 15
Competitive Bidding
Second Step: Form 465
• HCPs must not enter into a contract or service agreement until the Allowable Contract Selection Date (ACSD), or the 29th day after the 465 is posted
• HCPs must select the most cost effective bid
www.usac.org/rhc 16
Competitive Bidding
Second Step: Form 465
• USAC encourages the use of an (optional) scoring tool/scoring matrix– HCPs should choose the selection criteria most
important to them. Some examples include but are not limited to: Technical support Previous experience with service provider Cost for service Rapid response Service provider to provide a single point of contact
www.usac.org/rhc 17
Funding Request and Certification Form
• Second form(s) filed in the application process
• Identifies the HCP’s selected service(s), rates, carrier(s), and date of carrier selection
• The HCP must submit one form for each service
• Funds cannot be committed until RHC receives a completed form and required supporting documentation
What are the Forms 466 and 466-A?
Third Step: Forms 466/466-A
www.usac.org/rhc 18
Third Step: Forms 466/466-A
FORM 466: Funding Request and Certification
FORM 466-A: Internet Service Funding Request and Certification
• Used for telecommunications services • Used for Internet services
• Funds difference between rural rate and urban rate • Funds 25% of rural rate
• Blocks 1-3 are the same on both forms
• Both require rural rate documentation
• Both require contract and bids to be submitted (if applicable)
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• Copy of a bill, contract, service offer, or letter from the service provider within the current funding year showing the rural rate entered on the form
• Copy of contract signed by both parties (if applicable) after the Allowable Contract Selection Date (ACSD)
• Copy of bids (if applicable) and decision criteria
• Urban rate information (if you indicate on your Form 466 that you are not using a posted RHC rate)
Required Documentation
Third Step: Forms 466/466-A
www.usac.org/rhc 20
Connection Certification
• Third and final form required in the application process
• Used to confirm the following: – When service was provided (service start date)– When/if service was disconnected (service end date)– If service was never turned on
• The HCP will NOT receive support until the Form 467 is submitted
What is the Form 467?
Fourth Step: Form 467
www.usac.org/rhc 21
RHC Primary Program
April 16, 2012Prior to the beginning of the funding year, filing window opened so that HCPs can submit a Form 465
June 2, 2012Last day to post Form 465 to receive a
full year of funding. Support is pro-rated if Form 465 is posted after this date
July 1, 2012• First day of Funding Year• First day funding can be committed
June 30, 2013• Last day of Funding Year• Deadline to submit Form(s) 466/466-A
www.usac.org/rhc 22
• Window opening:– Earliest date that the Form 465 can be posted for
upcoming Funding Year– Typically occurs March – April (4/16/12 for FY
2012)– Remember to allow time in addition to 28 days to
review bids, sign a contract, and get services prior to July 1st
• Full year of funding:– Form 465 must be posted at least 28 calendar days
prior to the start of the upcoming Funding Year (June 2nd)
Timeline
www.usac.org/rhc 24
• Welcome Packet and Handouts• Ongoing exhibits and training for current program at
conferences such as American Telemedicine Association, NRHA, American Public Health Association, etc.
• Webinars on the RHC site:– Competitive Bidding and Evergreen Contracts– The Role of the Service Provider
• RHC website is undergoing complete overhaul
Training and Website
www.usac.org/rhc 26
• Additional training – live and online – is in development
• Complete website overhaul nearing completion!
• New system for application submission and processing to launch for FY 2012
Changes to the RHC Program
www.usac.org/rhc 27
New application system• Single login for access to your HCP• Increased security• Access to passwords• Forms management• Document upload• Automated alerts• Faster processing • More help
Changes to the RHC Program
Funding Year 2012
Live Training for Applicants (DC) April 5, 2012
My Portal Registration April 9 – 15, 2012
FY 2012 Window Open April 16, 2012
Live Training for Applicants (ATA Conference – San Jose, CA)
April 28, 2012
2012 Funding Year Begins July 1, 2012
2012 Funding Year Closes June 30, 2013
Important Dates
• April 5 at USAC in Washington, DC, and April 28 at the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Annual Conference in San Jose, CA
Two Training Sessions
Next Steps
• Posted on the RHC website prior to the window opening to include:• Registering and logging into the My Portal• Navigating My Portal• Posting an FCC Form 465 in My Portal• What Consultants Need to know
• Direct questions about the My Portal to [email protected]• Updates, tips, and more information will be shared with applicants via
email, the RHC Circuit newsletter, and additional conference calls
Web-based Training
www.usac.org/rhc 30
• Customer Support Center• 1-800-229-5476• [email protected]
• Conference Calls• 2nd Thursday of each month for applicants and
service providers
Ongoing Training
