CARR APPLAUDS NEXT STEPS IN CONNECTED CARE PILOT PROGRAM
 FCC Announces Round 2 Awardees, Provides Administrative Guidance 

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2021—Today, the FCC announced a second tranche of awardees in the agency’s $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program.  The 36 health care providers in this second funding round will receive a total of more than $31.3 million in support.  Commissioner Brendan Carr, who has spearheaded this connected care proceeding since 2018, also applauded the FCC’s adoption of final guidance for administration of the Connected Care Pilot Program—a step that will allow for the disbursement of funds for awardees.
“With advances in smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices, patients no longer need to visit brick-and-mortar facilities to receive high-quality care.  Connected care is facilitating the delivery of patient-centered health care from the comfort of a patient’s home.  I first saw the promise of these services on a visit to the Mississippi Delta about three years ago, where I met Ms. Annie, a diabetes patient at the North Sunflower Medical Center.  After seeing little progress managing her diabetes with traditional care options, Ms. Annie signed up for a remote patient monitoring pilot program.  With an iPad and Bluetooth-enabled blood glucose monitor, she was able to track and control her own care on a daily basis.  With this technology, Ms. Annie’s A1C levels went down and she never felt better.
“In March of this year, I was able to reconnect with Ms. Annie with Senator Wicker on a return trip to Ruleville.  With the progress that Ms. Annie made through connected care technologies, she has been able to graduate from that pilot program and the health benefits that she realized have endured.  This is a testament to the incredible technology and the potential benefits of the program she helped inspire.
“Today’s action brings us one step closer to getting funding into the hands of the first batch of awardees.  These dollars will go toward supporting the networks and equipment that facilitate connected care services that are crucial to patients like Ms. Annie.
“I am also pleased that today we are announcing a second round of awardees from across the country.  I had the privilege of visiting one of these awardees—Boone Memorial Health Services—in 2019 with Senator Shelley Moore Capito.  Boone operates a health care facility in rural Madison, West Virginia, which sits just outside the Mountain State’s southern coalfields.  Boone’s telestroke technology is reducing intervention times and improving health outcomes for stroke patients.  The nearly $400,000 Connected Care award will help overcome the challenges of connecting patients in rural communities.  As Senator Capito remarked at the time, you should have quality access to affordable care whether you live on Madison Avenue or in Madison, West Virginia.
“I commend Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel for her work on these issues.  I look forward to working with my colleagues to promote better health care outcomes through connected care services.”
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Office of Commissioner Brendan Carr
www.fcc.gov/about/leadership/brendan-carr
Media Contact:  Greg Watson
(202) 418-0658 or greg.watson@fcc.gov