The American Hospital Association (AHA) has sent a letter to a group of bipartisan senators, urging Congress to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program provides subsidies for high-speed internet access, which is vital for patients to utilize services such as telehealth, hospital at home, patient portals, electronic patient records, virtual scheduling, and remote patient monitoring.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is run by the Federal Communications Commission and offers eligible households $30 discounts per month towards internet service. For households located in qualifying tribal lands, the benefits can go up to $75 per month. However, without legislative action, these benefits are set to decrease to $14 this month and will completely expire in June.
Congress must act now to ensure that patients continue to have access to essential healthcare services through telehealth and other digital platforms. The AHA’s letter emphasizes the importance of maintaining these benefits in order to support the health and well-being of individuals, especially during these challenging times.
Without affordable high-speed internet access, patients may not be able to receive care through telehealth or use other digital platforms that are becoming increasingly important in healthcare delivery. In addition, the lack of reliable internet access may prevent patients from receiving critical care services at home or from managing their health remotely.
Therefore, Congress must act quickly to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program before it expires in June. By doing so, they can help ensure that patients have continued access to essential healthcare services and support their overall health and well-being during these challenging times.
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