DORIS 0 . MATSUI WASHINGTON OFFICE: 6TH OtSTAICT, CALIFORNIA 231 1 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515-0506 COMMITIEE ON ENERGY (202) 225-7163 AND COMMERCE DISTRICT OFFICE: <!ongre~~ of tbt Wnfttb ~tate~ ROBERT T. MATSUI U.S. COURTHOUSE 501 I STREET, SUITE 12-600 SACRAMENTO, CA 95814 1t}ou~t of l\tprestntati\les (916) 498-5600 http:l/matsui.house.gov ~asbington. il~ 20515-0506 549 June 26, 2020 Ajit Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Pai, I write today to support the application for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program submitted by the University of California Davis (UCD) School of Medicine. Their program aims to serve remote communities in the Central Valley of California, including the underserved Hispanic population, which is disproportionally affected by COVID-19 and face barriers in access to care. The UCD School of Medicine operates student-run clinics that have played a crucial role in serving the diverse populations of Sacramento and the surrounding community for many years. Prior to the pandemic, these clinics served patients exclusively in-person. To avoid the spread of COVID- 19, the clinics have temporarily paust?d on accepting patients. The approval of their COVID-19 Telehealth Program application will allow the clinics to purchase the telehealth equipment and licensing software necessary to restore services to patients in urban and rural areas. The UCD telehealth program seeks to target mostly Spanish-speaking communities where language barriers, financial barriers, and lack of transportation persistently challenge access to care. Telehealth services to be provided will include primary medical and mental health programs that will provide a practical way to detect COVID-19 symptoms, educate the community, and prevent community spread of the virus. The UCD School of Medicine's clinics provide critical services to higher-risk and vulnerable populations that would otherwise face great difficulties accessing affordable health care. Their continued service is imperative to the health and well-being of their patient population during this time. I have full confidence that the UCD-trained medical students and healthcare navigators will continue to provide high-quality, culturally-competent care via telehealth, and I strongly support their application for this program. I thank you for your prompt consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, Doris Matsui Member of Congress PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER