Reps Eshoo and Doyle Urge Loosening Rural Health Care Restrictions

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, doctors around the country are turning to telemedicine as a safety precaution to contain the spread of the virus. Virtual visits also enable healthcare facilities to more efficiently handle issues not related to the virus. The Federal Communications Commission's Rural Health Care Program (RHCP) is critical for enabling internet connectivity for rural healthcare facilities that may otherwise not be able to afford it by subsidizing a discount for broadband services. Following Hurricane Katrina, the FCC loosened restrictions on the RHCP to allow non-rural providers to apply for support under the program. In 2005, the FCC’s rationale for this decision was that “Hurricane Katrina has also severely limited the ability of healthcare providers in the affected areas to respond effectively to both injuries caused by the hurricane and ongoing medical needs of the population.” Unfortunately, this statement applies almost perfectly to our current pandemic as well. For these reasons, we ask that you loosen the restrictions on RHCP to expand eligibility to all healthcare facilities nationwide as expeditiously as possible.