On May 7, the American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted a letter to a bipartisan group of senators, urging Congress to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program. The AHA highlighted the crucial role that high-speed internet plays in accessing important healthcare services such as telehealth, hospital at home, patient portals, electronic patient records, virtual scheduling and remote patient monitoring.
The Affordable Connectivity Program is administered by the Federal Communications Commission and provides eligible households with discounts of $30 per month towards internet service. Qualifying households in tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month in benefits. However, without legislative action, these benefits would decrease to $14 this month before completely expiring in June.
The AHA emphasized the critical role that affordable high-speed internet plays in ensuring equitable access to healthcare and urged Congress to extend the program to prevent disruptions in patient care. In light of the increasing importance of telehealth during the current pandemic, it is essential that patients continue to have access to high-speed internet to receive quality healthcare services.
The AHA called on Congress to take immediate action and extend the Affordable Connectivity Program for at least another year. By doing so, patients will be able to continue receiving vital healthcare services and maintain their quality of life.
In conclusion, the Affordable Connectivity Program is a crucial component of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all Americans. It is imperative that Congress extends this program for at least another year to ensure that patients continue to receive quality healthcare services through telehealth and other digital platforms.
