The CARES Act is playing its due role in expanding telehealth across the U.S.

Signed on March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) is formidable legislation that represents the most extensive economic stimulus package in the history of the United States. It is aimed at providing much-needed financial assistance to hospitals, businesses, and individuals that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing telehealth as a vital healthcare tool remains the most noteworthy point of the CARES Act.

Here are eight ways how the CARES Act is facilitating the expansion and access of telehealth across the country:

$25 million for rural utilities to prepare for telemedicine services

Rural communities are perhaps the most underserved parts of the country, while the majority of the residents deprived of access to quality healthcare. The limited infrastructural capabilities required for telemedicine, especially limited access to broadband internet, are an intimidating challenge in such settings. The CARES Acts has allocated $25 million for rural setups to expand broadband and telemedicine services to improve access to telehealth and hence help slow the spread of the disease.

$27 billion funding to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund

The CARES Act has allocated $27 billion to the Public Health and Social Security Services Emergency Fund. Of this, $180 million is directed towards telehealth and rural health activities to improve the telecommunication infrastructure in rural settings, including broadband access, hardware upgrades, and establishing telehealth programs in local and underserved communities.

$29 million per annum for Health and Resource Services Administration’s Telehealth Resource Center (HRSA)

Reauthorizing the grant program, this funding is intended to encourage innovative and helpful telehealth initiatives to secure funding to expand and enhance telehealth access. Once the HRSA receives its funding, which will be active through 2025, it will help create a lot more telehealth funding opportunities.

$200 million for use by FCC to launch a new telehealth program

This unique program is aimed at improving the broadband connectivity for connected health services, enhancing the capabilities of caregivers to fight the pandemic.

$1.032 billion funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for Indian Health Services

Reliable broadband connections on American Indian Reservations are poor. For instance, 51 percent of the Navajo reservation residents lack indoor plumbing, and 48 percent lack complete kitchen facilities, let alone internet connectivity. Hence, this funding allocation of the CARES Act is aimed at improving their living conditions.

Temporary uplift of restrictions on FQHCs and RHCs

Under the CARES Act, restrictions on Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) have been temporarily lifted to improve access to telehealth. Providers in FQHCs and RHCs are now able to see Medicare beneficiaries in the comfort of their homes with telemedicine.

Temporary lift of face-to-face visit requirements for home dialysis patients

This is intended to provide the much-needed respite for the immunocompromised and dialysis patients who currently have a face-to-face visit scheduled with their providers.

Establish Hospice Care eligibility via telehealth

The providers have been authorized to use telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic to ‘fulfill the hospice face-to-face requirements. This is intended to reduce the potential delays in delivering care in home-health settings while also reducing the exposure risk for critically-ill patients, as well as their providers.