Kelly, Sinema Help Secure $2 Million in Telehealth Funding for Arizona Communities

Senators helped secure funding in 2020 Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON – Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema helped secure over $2 million in telehealth funding awarded by the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program for communities across Arizona. Kelly and Sinema helped secure the funding in the December 2020 end-of-year appropriations bill.

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.

“Expanding telehealth for Arizonans in rural communities is critical to getting us through this ongoing health crisis. This funding will make sure health care providers can support more families across the state where they are,” said Kelly.

“We’re proud to help secure critical funding to expand telehealth services across Arizona, allowing Arizonans to receive quality health care safely in their homes,” said Sinema.

As part of the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, the FCC announced the following awards:

• $506,702 to Canyonlands Community Health Care in Page, Arizona for laptops, tablets, servers, web cameras, computers, patient telehealth platforms, and privacy and communication licenses to improve patient care, expand their telehealth services, and enhance remote monitoring.
• $449,201 to Cobre Valley Regional Medical Center in Globe, Arizona to purchase video conferencing subscriptions, tablets, and network hardware to connect providers directly with patients for COVID-19 follow-up care, as well as to maintain consistent communication for patients with chronic care needs.
• $915,985 to Community Health Center of Yavapai in Prescott, Arizona to purchase remote patient monitoring devices, telemedicine carts, internet connectivity, and Wi-Fi infrastructure upgrades to enable mobile provider care, maintain telehealth monitoring for patients with high-risk medical conditions, handle a greater volume of telehealth visits to promote social distancing, and increase access to low-income, uninsured patients without smart phones or internet service.
• $241,586 to Creek Valley Health Clinic in Colorado City, Arizona to purchase remote patient monitoring devices, such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure devices, thermometers, and to provide loaner tablets to patients who may lack access to the devices needed to utilize telehealth care.