September 1, 2021

Family Health receives telehealth award

MOBILE, Ala. — The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved an initial set of 62 applications for funding commitments totaling $41.98 million for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program.

Family Health – the primary care division of the Mobile County Health Department — was awarded funding to purchase remote patient monitoring equipment and a telehealth software platform, focusing on patients with high blood pressure because of the increased risk of experiencing severe complications from COVID-19.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to health care has proven to be not only a national issue, but also a local issue, and it is imperative that every community is given the tools to access this care as safely and effectively as possible,” said FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “The FCC is committed to ensuring that every state and territory in the United States receive funding as part of this program.

“The FCC took action earlier this year to establish a system for rating applications in Round 2, factoring in the hardest hit and lowest income areas, Tribal communities, and previously unfunded states and territories. Now even more doctors and nurses in every corner of our country can establish or expand telehealth services to support patients and their families.”

Health care providers in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia, including those previously unfunded in Round 1, will use this funding to provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program supports the efforts of health care providers to continue serving their patients by providing reimbursement for telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.