THE TELEHEALTH FRAMEWORK and Funding Your Telecom Needs. presented by Erin Daye, Customer Relations Manager - TeleQuality Communications

Transcription

1 THE TELEHEALTH FRAMEWORK and Funding Your Telecom Needs presented by Erin Daye, Customer Relations Manager - TeleQuality Communications

2 TODAY S TOPICS The Telehealth Framework What is the Universal Service Fund? Universal Service Fund s Rural Healthcare Program

3 TELECOM SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE The TELEHEALTH FRAMEWORK Telecom Services Infrastructure IT & Medical Tools MEDICAL TOOLS Clinical Services IT TOOLS CLINICAL SERVICES Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc.

4 TELECOM SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE Minimum required speeds- 10 Mbps Uniquely designed networks for rural markets - Ethernet over copper (EoC) - Redundant networks over different routes/channels - Creative designs to maximize funding Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc.

5 EXAMPLE UNIQUE NETWORK DESIGN Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc.

6 IT and MEDICAL TOOLS IT tools - Manage - Monitor - Support - Secure Medical Tools - Equipment and Plans - Interoperability Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc.

7 CLINICAL SERVICES Telehealth services provided by - Radiologists - Cardiologists - Skilled healthcare workers Workflow patterns - Learning to incorporate technology into exams & processes Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc.

8 What is the UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND? Based on the principle of universal service Communications Act of 1934: - Established universal service in legislation - Created the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - Universal service helped make telephone lines ubiquitous Telecommunications Act of 1996: - Updated the Communications Act of Expanded USF to include advanced services such as high-speed Internet broadband Source:

9 TELEQUALITY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and its subsidiary, Rural Health Telecom are not affiliated with the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) which collects and distributes the Universal Service Fund are not involved in any review or approval processes conducted by USAC are not involved in the filing process for individual healthcare providers

10 HOW is the USF FINANCED? The FCC requires all telecommunications carriers to contribute to the USF, including: - Wireline & wireless companies - VoIP providers - Cable companies that provide voice Contributions are based on a percentage of revenues Contribution factor changes each quarter based on demand Contributions are often passed along to consumers via their phone bill Source:

11 The USF Consists of FOUR PROGRAMS Lifeline Connect America Fund (High Cost) Rural Health Care Schools and Libraries (E-rate) 2015 Authorized Support by Program High Cost ~ 54% Lifeline ~ 17.5% Rural Health Care ~ 3.25% Schools & Libraries ~ 25.25% Total $8,354,619,000 Data Source: Universal Service Administrative Company Annual Report.

12 WHO DISTRIBUTES the USF? The Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC)* collects and distributes the USF USAC* was created in 1997 Image: c 2016 TeleQuality Communications, Inc. Source:

13 RURAL HEALTHCARE PROGRAM The Rural Health Care (RHC) Program: - Ensures rural HCPs can obtain telecom and Internet services at rates comparable to urban providers Source: - Helps HCPs connect physicians, staff and patients - Annual funding cap: $400 million - Houses two programs: Healthcare Connect Fund Telecommunications Program - Eligibility Criteria includes, but is not limited to: HCP type HCP must be a non-for-profit organization or public entity Location

14 What Services Are Eligible For Funding? Any telecommunications service which is used primarily for the provision of healthcare, including but not limited to: ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) Centrex DSL Ethernet Fiber Fractional T1 Frame Relay ISDN Mileage-related Charges MPLS NRS- Network Reconfiguration Services OC-1 OC-3 Redundant Circuit Satellite Service Telephone Service T1 T3 or DS3 Source:

15 RESOURCES & LINKS Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Universal Service- Rural Healthcare Program- Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Rural Healthcare Program- Determining Ruralityhttp:// USAC 2015 Annual Reporthttp:// USAC Webinars for further information

16 WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS!* *TeleQuality Communications and its subsidiary, Rural Health Telecom, are not affiliated with the Universal Service Administrative Company which collects and distributes the Universal Service Fund.

17 THANK YOU! USAC Representatives are readily available to answer questions and provide more information. USAC Contact Info: Phone: (800) Website: Interested in learning more?* Us: Phone: (210) Website: * Not for Disclosure Outside of TeleQuality Communications, Inc *TeleQuality Communications and its subsidiary, Rural Health Telecom, are not affiliated with the Universal Service Administrative Company which collects and distributes the Universal Service Fund.