HHS Provides $16M to Bolster Telehealth at Family Planning Clinics
The Title X family planning program has received $16.3 million from HHS to support and expand telehealth services.
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By - To expand telehealth services provided by Title X family planning clinics, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided a $16.3 million grant to increase virtual care resources and patient outreach.
Title X family planning clinics have provided health services to over 190 million low-income and uninsured individuals over the past 50 years. The organization delivers care through various channels such as local health departments, federally qualified health centers, and hospital-based sites.
HHS is delivering the new funds, made available through the American Rescue Plan, to 31 grantees across 26 states over the next year.
The grantees are located across the country and plan to use the funds to advance their telehealth capabilities.
Some of the grantees include the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Southern Nevada Health District, and Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
“Expanding telehealth at our nation’s Title X family planning clinics will help ensure all women and families have equitable access to this essential care,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra in the press release. “Across the nation we are seeing attacks on sexual and reproductive health care services, and through these funds and other HHS efforts we can ensure that we’re able to provide this care that so many across the country need."
The move comes one week after a leaked Supreme Court opinion draft showed that Roe v Wade, the landmark abortion rights decision, will be struck down, as first reported by Politico.
Abortion and reproductive health providers are planning to employ telehealth as they work to expand access in states where abortion will likely be criminalized.
The effort to bolster telehealth services at family planning clinics also derives from its rapid growth in recent years and its ability to enhance access.
“This opportunity to sustain investments in telehealth for the Title X program helps open the door to high-quality family planning services for even more clients,” said Jessica Swafford Marcella, HHS deputy assistant secretary for population affairs, in the press release.
Through the pandemic, various government agencies have provided grants to help enhance healthcare delivery and access.
In March, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided $30 million in grants to Connected Care Pilot Program participants. The goals of the awardees revolve around making advancements in connected care, specifically telehealth, in various communities. While distributing the grants, the FCC also studies the goals and projects of recipients, guiding them on future steps to take.
Further, clinics have previously used virtual care modalities to increase access to reproductive healthcare amid restrictions.
In September 2019, Planned Parenthood expanded its telehealth platform to combat federal funding barriers. The expansion consisted of rolling out an mHealth app that provided UTI and birth control services.
