$200M FCC Telehealth Program - Application Highlight | March 29, 2021
Last week, we wrote about our excitement for the upcoming round of the FCC Telehealth program.
This week, we wanted to dig into Round 1 winners’ applications and analyze how those applications would be classified against the metrics we proposed to the FCC earlier this year. Stel’s additional discussions with the FCC and can be found here.
Before diving into the breakdown, the beginning recaps Round 1’s rules and Stel’s recommendations for Round 2.
FCC Program Round 1 Rules:
The FCC’s $200 million Telehealth Program and $100 million Connected Care Pilot Program was adopted to fund the purchase of telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices for eligible health care providers.
“For purposes of this Report and Order, we broadly define “connected care services” as a subset of telehealth that uses broadband Internet access service-enabled technologies to deliver remote medical, diagnostic, patient-centered, and treatment-related services directly to patients outside of traditional brick and mortar medical facilities—including specifically to patients at their mobile location or residence. Examples of connected care services delivered to patients at their residence or mobile location rather than a health care provider’s physical location include, but are not limited to, remote patient monitoring, patient health education, store and forward services, and synchronous video” pg. 10
“Eligible health care providers should not include the cost of ineligible items in their funding application.” #27 on FCC FAQ
(Below: list of Eligible and Ineligible items from the FCC FAQS)
Ineligible
Unconnected Vitals Devices - Devices patients use and manually enter / report results to professionals
Unconnected supplies - testing strips, lancets, disposable covers, and personal protective equipment, etc.
Consumer Devices - Smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Unconnected accessories - e.g., cases, mouse pads, cable clips, laptop bags, tablet stands, and charging stations, back-up batteries, redundant power cords, surge protectors, etc.
Non-Telehealth Items - e.g., office furniture and supplies, security systems, and incidental expenses, etc.
Technical support, maintenance, warranties, and protection plans
Personnel costs - e.g., IT staff, project managers, medical professionals, etc.
Staff Training Costs
Administrative Expenses - Consultant fees, payroll, customer service, records management, and doctor’s costs, etc.
Marketing Costs
Development / Implementation of platforms, websites, or systems.
Construction: e.g., fiber/ethernet/cable network constructions, facility alterations, and temporary site location structures, etc.
Solutions purchased before March 13 or after December 31, 2020
More than six months of recurring fees
Eligible Services And Devices
Connected Vitals Devices (Bluetooth / Wifi Blood Pressure Monitors, Scales, etc…)
Connected Equipment (Tablets, smart phones, connected vitals devices) to receive connected care services at home
Telemedicine Kiosks / carts
Telecommunications and Internet Connectivity
Information Services (remote patient monitoring platforms and services, patient reported outcome platforms, store and forward services, async transfer of patient images and data, platforms and services for synchronous video)
Recurring Fees (six months for eligible services)
Stel’s Round 2 Recommendations:
In order to further Federal priorities in curing the Digital Divide, expanding Connected Care, and promoting Interoperability while also preventing fraud/waste/abuse, Stel recommends that applicants detail how their solutions impact the following:
Patient Care and the Digital Divide:
Efficacy of program or number of patients that can be treated per dollar of investment (ex. cost of devices and services per patient)
Impact on Digital Divide and Vulnerable Patient Populations:
Required Patient Infrastructure (Wifi, smartphones, e-mails, etc…)
Patient burden and risk of harm (required tech/security literacy)
Patient’s out of pocket costs
Organization’s Capability and Connected Health Initiatives:
Track-record of previous investments into connected care and telehealth programs
Impact on Interoperability, EHR integration, or on other agency initiatives
Fraud/waste/abuse - listing out investments into eligible vs. ineligible items
Round 1 Application Review:
Data collected from FCC applications. Full list of awardees here.
Full vendor breakdown can be found in previous blog post.
The intention of this post is to highlight the natural alignment applicants expressed to our proposed Round 2 metrics. The following is a breakdown of Round 1 applications with goals in curing the digital divide, expanding Connected Care, and promoting Interoperability while also preventing fraud/waste/abuse.
These applications were prepared during the height of the pandemic and under the pressures of submitting applications under a time-sensitive rolling process in Round 1. Please note that these applications may not represent the final outcomes of funding decisions. Actual payments may differ as the FCC reported not all Round 1 funding had been disbursed. As a result, to maintain context on the application review process and not on specific applicants, links to applications are below, but the name of the applicant will be withheld from the post itself. We intend to do a further analysis once program reports or invoice data becomes available.
If you are interested in contributing to this research please contact sid@stel.life.
(Updated 04-8-21: $800,000 awardees complete)
84- Total Awardee Applications reviewed below
39 - Awardees supporting patients struggling from the digital divide
27 - Awardees supporting privileged patients (with required tech infrastructure - wifi/smartphones)
18 - Awardees with no mention of devices or services for patients at home
Awardees supporting populations struggling from the digital divide:
Awardee announced 4/29 - $1M Awarded, Requested $3,600,000
Remote monitoring kits
Breakdown not in application
Awardee announced 5/20 - $1M Awarded, Requested $2,327,662 (Supplemental Information)
Remote monitoring kits
Awardee announced 5/28 - $1M Awarded, Requested $4,394,481 (Supplemental Information)
Remote monitoring kits
Awardee announced 6/10 - $1M Awarded, Requested $2,357,500 (Supplemental Information)
$420k for phones and data plans for 5000 high risk patients with limited connectivity
Awardee announced 6/17 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,078,000 (APP2, APP3)
Tablet and Peripherals provided
Awardee announced 6/24 - $1M Awarded, Requested $2,251,381.23 (Supplemental Information)
Remote monitoring kits
Awardee announced 7/1 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1M
Smartphones and data services
Awardee announced 6/10 - $999,700 Awarded, Requested $999,770
Smartphone and data services
Awardee announced 6/17 - $998,250 Awarded, Requested $998,250
Tablets and connected vitals devices
Awardee announced 5/1 - $994,950 Awarded, Requested $1M
Phones for patients
Awardee announced 7/1 - $976,679 Awarded, Requested $1M
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 6/24 - $973,055 Awarded, Requested $998,917
Tablets and phones for patients
Awardee announced 6/24 - $967,304 Awarded, Requested $971,554
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 5/20 - $967,304 Awarded, Requested $994,212
Network enabled devices
Awardee announced 6/24 - $966,026 Awarded, Requested $1,016,189
Tablets for patients
Awardee announced 4/21 - $958,270 Awarded, Requested $999,547.00
Internet hotspots and wireless devices
Awardee announced 5/6 - $954,990 Awarded, Requested $983,215
Internet hotspots and wireless devices
Awardee announced 6/10 - $948,576 Awarded, Requested $986,400
Cellular hub and wireless vitals devices
Awardee announced 6/6 - $939,627 Awarded, Requested $995,688
Phones and data plans for patients
Awardee announced 6/3 - $930,098 Awarded, Requested $999,825
Cell phones and data plans for patients
Awardee announced 5/28 - $929,834 Awarded, Requested $1,000,458
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 5/20 - $928,183 Awarded, Requested $999,841
Cell phones and data plans for patients
Awardee announced 6/24 - $927,146 Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Devices to patients for telehealth
Awardee announced 6/24 - $926,266 Awarded, Requested $991,177
Phones with data plans for patients
Awardee announced 6/24 - $923,487 Awarded, Requested $778,828
Broadband enabled tablet
Vital sign monitoring devices
Awardee announced 6/17 - $922,688 Awarded, Requested $661,300
Smartphones
Bluetooth vitals devices
Awardee announced 6/3 - $917,255 Awarded, Requested $998,730
Tablets for patients
Awardee announced 6/24 - $915,862 Awarded, Requested $957,447 (Supplemental Information)
Tablets for patients
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 5/28 - $909,560 Awarded, Requested $914,420
Remote monitoring devices
Awardee announced 7/8 - $883,702 Awarded, Requested $999,973
Cellular tablets
Bluetooth vitals devices
Awardee announced 7/1 - $882,255 Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Tablets and smartphones
Connected vitals devices
Awardee announced 5/13 - $879,520 Awarded, Requested $1,272,967
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 6/17 - $873,982 Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 5/20 - $873,202 Awarded, Requested $999,957
Cellular tablets
Awardee announced 5/6 - $862,950 Awarded, Requested $$999,750
Preloaded connectivity devices
Awardee announced 5/28 - $857,750 Awarded, Requested $777,250
Cellular phones and tablets
Awardee announced 6/24 - $836,243 Awarded, Requested $1,206,708
Cellular phones and tablets
Awardee announced 6/17 - $827,637 Awarded, $1,070,930 Requested
Remote patient monitoring kits
Awardee announced 6/10 - $817,248 Awarded, $835,892 Requested
Cellular phones and tablets
Awardees Supporting populations with SmartPhones:
Awardee announced 4/16 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,000,000 (Supplemental Information)
Connected Vitals Devices provided - additional breakdown in supplemental Information
Awardee announced 5/20 - $1M Awarded, Requested $575,545
(Only application we could find from FCC Search, Please let us know if there’s an updated application, and we’ll update link)
Connected Vitals Devices to be deployed on Patient’s existing smartphone
Awardee announced 5/20 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,100,000
Bluetooth Vitals Devices Mentioned
Staff Equipment
Awardee announced 5/28 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,289,300.05
Connected Vitals Devices and Smart phone application broken down in application
Staff equipment also broken down in application
Awardee announced 6/3 - $1M Awarded, Requested $866,542.51 (APP2, APP3)
Bluetooth Vitals Devices
Apps 2 and 3 highlight funding for patient apps and hospital equipment
Awardee announced 6/10 - $1M Awarded, Requested $2,174,530.38
Bluetooth PulseOx Devices mentioned, but not broken down
App/Video Software for patients and providers mentioned, but not broken down
In-Patient Cameras and tools mentioned, but not broken down
Staff Equipment mentioned, but not broken down
Awardee announced 6/17 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Patient smartphone apps
Staff Equipment
Awardee announced 6/17 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Smart Vitals Devices
Staff Equipment
Awardee announced 7/1 - $1M Awarded, Requested $870,000
Smartphone App with EHR connection
Service + maintenance included in breakdown in application
Awardee announced 7/8 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1M
Mentions equipment provided from another application
Training and staff equipment mentioned
Full breakdown in non-public application
Awardee announced 7/8 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1M (Supplemental Information)
Supplemental includes Peripherals
Awardee announced 7/1 - $985,312 Awarded, Requested $1M
iPads
Wireless vitals devices
Awardee announced 4/21 - $983,772 Awarded, Requested $1,004,611
App based telehealth solution
Awardee announced 6/10 - $977,720 Awarded, Requested $1M
Wireless vitals devices
Tablets for providers
Awardee announced 7/1 - $945,590 Awarded, Requested $971,092
Bluetooth vitals devices
Awardee announced 6/24 - $940,693 Awarded, Requested $999,992
Bluetooth vitals devices
Awardee announced 7/1 - $937,755 Awarded, Requested $987,855
Wireless vitals devices for patients
Awardee announced 7/1 - $920,019 Awarded, Requested $1M
Wireless vitals devices
Awardee announced 6/17 - $907,383 Awarded, Requested $949,315
Wireless Bluetooth devices
Awardee announced 5/28 - $902,290 Awarded, Requested $1,000,162
Mobile app based solution
Awardee announced 7/1 - $891,276 Awarded, Requested $987,226
Connected vitals devices
Awardee announced 5/20 - $884,116 Awarded, Requested $938,165
Connected vitals devices
Awardee announced 7/8 - $842,637 Awarded, Requested UNKNOWN
Connected vitals devices
Awardee announced 5/28 - $821,882 Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Bluetooth devices
Awardee announced 7/1 - $820,493 Awarded, $999,092 Requested
Laptops, webcams, and self-monitoring blood pressure machines for patients
Awardee announced 4/29 - $807,090 Awarded, $993,394.00 Requested
Vitals devices
Awardee announced 6/17 - $804,641 Awarded, $979,127 Requested
Vitals devices
Awardees with no mention of devices or services for patients at home:
Awardee announced 5/28 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1,659,744
Staff Equipment and Triaging Services
Awardee announced 6/24 - $1M Awarded, Requested $2,801,926
Staff Equipment (Tablets, Phones, Accessories)
Awardee announced 7/1 - $1M Awarded, Requested $1M
“The devices, kept onsite at our hospital and ambulatory care locations, enable telephonic and video communication between patients and providers, as well as among providers. They are used for direct patient care. The devices also allow patients and providers to communicate with patients’ family members; however, this is not their intended purpose.”
Awardee announced 7/1 - $997,720 Awarded, Requested $1,027,563
Staff Equipment (Laptops and Video Licenses)
Awardee announced 7/1 - $996,119 Awarded, Requested $999,842.00
Laptops for providers
Awardee announced 6/17 - $995,000 Awarded, Requested $1M
Inpatient Telemedicine Carts
Awardee announced 5/13 - $990,716 Awarded, Requested (Blank)
Inpatient Devices
Awardee announced 7/1 - $986,261 Awarded, Requested $1M
Inpatient Devices and Software
Awardee announced 6/21 - $978,935 Awarded, Requested $999,355
Telehealth carts
Tablets for mobile clinicians
Awardee announced 7/1 - $944,766 Awarded, Requested $997,271
Staff equipment
Awardee announced 5/20 - $938,960 Awarded, Requested $934,147
Inpatient equipment
eICU
Awardee announced 7/1 - $923,989 Awarded, Requested $933,177
Laptops and equipment for providers
Awardee announced 6/17 - $914,049 Awarded, Requested $332,578
Staff equipment
Chat line
Awardee announced 6/3 - $881,958 Awarded, Requested $946,220
Inpatient telemedicine cart
Improvement to wireless network
Awardee announced 6/10 - $872,363 Awarded, Requested $940,189
Inpatient equipment
Awardee announced 7/1 - $870,925 Awarded, Requested $1,205,773
Staff equipment
Awardee announced 6/24 - $803,588 Awarded, Requested $1,000,000
Inpatient equipment
Awardee announced 6/24 - $803,268 Awarded, Requested $999,153
Inpatient equipment