Broadband Internet News and Resources for Healthcare

Internet Use Gaps Among Medicare Patients Shrinking Across Segments

January 23, 2024 - Gaps in internet use rates appear to be narrowing among Medicare beneficiaries, but disparities across demographic groups persist, impacting telehealth access, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The digital divide became increasingly apparent as digital healthcare adoption and use skyrocketed during...

Counties with Urgent Mental Healthcare Needs Face Telehealth Barriers

January 16, 2024 by Anuja Vaidya

Though telehealth can help expand mental healthcare access, United States counties where mental health resources are low tend to also lack broadband internet access, hampering telehealth use, according...

FCC Updates Funding Program to Boost Rural Telehealth Adoption

January 12, 2024 by Anuja Vaidya

The Federal Communications Commission released the final rule updating the Rural Health Care Program to support virtual care access in rural America through funding efforts. Established in 1997, the...

Telehealth, High-Speed Internet Access May Not Close Care Gaps

January 09, 2024 by Anuja Vaidya

New research indicates that expanding access to telehealth services and high-speed internet may not close gaps in primary care utilization, as higher telehealth uptake was linked to groups with higher...

$2M Grant to Support Telehealth Implementation in Rural Alabama

November 30, 2023 by Anuja Vaidya

Using a $2 million grant, Auburn University will spearhead a rural healthcare access initiative to install telehealth stations across rural Alabama. Provided by the Alabama State Department of...

Expanded Telehealth Access Can Cut Millions in Rural Health Costs

April 27, 2023 by Anuja Vaidya

Expanding broadband infrastructure in rural areas and increasing access to telehealth could result in millions in healthcare cost savings, according to a new report. Released by the Southern Rural...

Expanding Telehealth Key to Care Access, But Tech Infrastructure Needs Upgrade

September 02, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

While policymakers appear keen to extend telehealth flexibilities and ensure expanded access to virtual care, US Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) believes widespread technology infrastructure issues may hold up their efforts. Thune, who serves as...

FCC to Authorize $640M for Broadband Expansion

March 17, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

The Federal Communications Commission plans to authorize more than $640 million to support new broadband deployments in 26 states, which will help boost access to virtual healthcare. The new...

Using Hospital-At-Home Services to Lower Readmissions, Increase Capacity

February 28, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

As the Omicron variant drove COVID-19 case counts up, hospitals found themselves facing a familiar problem: caring for patients as inpatient capacity grew slim. Many health facilities relied on systems set up during earlier stages of the...

FCC Plans to Change Telecom Rate Determination for Rural Providers

February 22, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

The Federal Communications Commission plans to change how payment rates are determined for rural providers using telecommunications, including telehealth. The Rural Health Care Program assists...

79% of Patients Want Call, Text to Signal Start of Telehealth Visit

February 17, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

Though patients have previously made their preference for virtual waiting rooms over traditional ones known, new survey results show that a majority of telehealth patients would rather just be notified...

In New FCC Funding Round, 100 Providers Get $48M to Advance Telehealth

January 27, 2022 by Anuja Vaidya

The Federal Communications Commission is providing $47.89 million in new funding to 100 healthcare organizations with the aim of boosting telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The agency...

Atrium Health Launches Virtual Care Clinic at Church Center

December 17, 2021 by Anuja Vaidya

Atrium Health has established a new virtual care clinic at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church's Community Life Center in Shelby, North Carolina. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based health system's new...

Older, Black Patients More Likely to Use Audio-Only Telehealth

November 23, 2021 by Anuja Vaidya

Patients in older age groups and those who are Black are more likely to use audio-only telehealth as compared with video-based care, according to a new study. As telehealth flexibilities that were...

Biden Administration Emphasizes Telehealth in its Infrastructure Strategy

October 25, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

The federal government is making a concerted effort to link broadband connectivity and telehealth to the nation’s infrastructure. The Us Department of Agriculture last week unveiled more than...

Lawmakers Ask Congress to Create a Rural Telehealth Access Task Force

October 12, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

Lawmakers are making another push to improve telehealth access in rural America. US Reps. Greg Pence (R-IN) and Angie Craig (D-MN) have introduced the Rural Telehealth Access Task Force Act (HR 5506),...

FCC Preparing to Announce Next Batch of Connected Care Pilot Program Awards

October 06, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

The Federal Communications Commission is getting ready to unveil the next round of healthcare organizations that will receive funding through the Connected Care Pilot Program for telehealth...

How Can the Internet of Things Integrate With Telehealth, Remote Patient Monitoring?

October 04, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

The federal government is seeking comments on issues related to spectrum for the Internet of Things, including broadband connectivity needed for remote patient monitoring and telehealth programs and...

FCC Announces Latest Awards From COVID-19 Telehealth Program

September 30, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

More than 70 healthcare organizations will received federal funds for new connected health projects through the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The FCC this week...

MetroHealth’s Institute for HOPE Takes Connected Health to a New Level

September 01, 2021 by Eric Wicklund

As healthcare organizations launch remote patient monitoring and telehealth programs to connect with underserved populations, some health systems are using the opportunity to establish new partnerships...

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