JOE WILSON COUNTIES. 2ND DISTRICT. SOUTH CAROUNA AIKEN BARNWELL ASSISTANT MINORITY WHIP LEXINGTON ORANGEBURG* RICHLAND' COMMITTEE: ¬ ongregg of ttle *Inittb *tates 587 (*PARTS OF} FOREIGN AFFAIRS RANKING MEMBER MIDDLE EAST. NORTH AFMCA, & INTERNAT{ONAL TERRORISM *)ouBe of 1&£pre5entatib£5 ARMED SERVICES Received & Inspected July 1.2020 JUL 08 2020 FCC Mailroom The Honorable Ajit V. Pai Chairman Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW, Suite 8-B201 Washington, DC 20554-0004 Dear Honorable Pai, I am writing to you to express my interest in the application submission by the Low Country Health Care System (LCHCS) for funding under the Federal Communication Commission COVID-19 Telehealth program. The Application National Provider Identifier is 1649366022. I urge you to give this submission your full and fair consideration as you determine which entities will receive funding. As the congressional representative o f South Carolina's Second Congressional District, 1 am keenly aware o f the need for quality healthcare, particularly the Low Country region which faces a shortage of primary care providers serving the low-income population. [n the last five years, health care resources in this region have severely diminished with the closing of a rural hospital and two rural health clinics. LCHCS, which serves Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun. Hampton. and Orangeburg counties. is an essential safety-net provider for the uninsured, Medicaid, and Medicare populations. Without access to services provided by LCHCS, these individuals would delay care or rely on the emergency room - resulting in greater sickness, costlier care, and fewer resources for liospitalization of COVID-19 cases. The expansion of telehealth services through FCC funding will improve health outcomes in this underserved area, where a significant portion of the population suffers from multiple chronic co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and HIV. FCC funding will equip eight clinics to deliver primary care remotely across the expansive, primarily rural service area. By strengthening its capacity to treat patients with chronic diseases and COVID-19 symptoms through telehealth. LCHCS will improve the safety of all patients by reducing the risk of exposure. By adding telehealth services for routine and urgent patient services and treatment of chronic diseases, LCHCS will free up resources such as staffing and physical space to screen for, evaluate, and treat patients with COVID-19. This expansion of comprehensive telehealth services will provide care to an estimated 5,529 patients across eight sites and seven counties. 1436 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING AIKEN OFFICE: MIDLANDS OFFICE: 1930 UNivERSTY PARKWAY, SUITE 1600 WASHINGTON, DC 20515-4002 1700 SuNSET BLv D. (US 378), SUITE 1 AIKEN. SC 29801 (202) 225-2452 WEST COLUMBIA. SC 29169 (803) 642-6416 (803) 9390041 FAx: (202) 225-2455 FAA: (803) 642-6418 FAx: (8031 939-0078 www.joewilson.house. gov JOE WILSON COUNTIES 2ND DISTRICT. SOUTH CAROLINA AIKEN 8AANWELL ASSISTANT MINORITY WHIP LEKINGTON ORANGEBURG* COMMITTEE: ¬ ongr£55 of tilt *initeb *tated RICHLAND' FOREIGN AFFAIRS ('PARTS OF) RANKING MEMBER. MIDDLE EAST. NORTH AFACA. & INTERNAY}ONAL TERRORISM *)oude of £epredentatibed ARMED SERVICES It is an honor to represent the people ofthe Second Congressional District of South Carolina, and I value your input. Thank you for your time and concern in this and all other matters If you have questions, contact: Mr. Alex Morris at the Midlands District Office at 1700Sunset Blvd.. Suite 1 West Columbia, South Carolina 29169. The phone number is 803- 939-0041. The fax number is 803-939-0078. Sincerely, , 33©OLD Joe Wilson Member of Congress JW/dg AIKEN OFFICE: 1436 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING MIDLANDS OFFICE 1930 UN,vERS,n PARKWAY, SUM 1600 WASHINGTON, DC 20515-4002 1700 SuNSET BLve (US 378), SurrE 1 AIKEN, SC 29801 (202)225-2452 WEST COLUMBIA. SC 29169 (803) 642-6416 (803) 939-0041 FAX: (202) 225-2455 FAX: (803) 642-6418 FAX: (803) 939-0078 www.joewilson.house.gov