Specific Telemedicine Spending in Final Stimulus Bill

The recently passed $787 billion economic stimulation bill includes $19 billion for health information technology (HIT). Specific for telemedicine, it will provide $4.7 billion for NTIA’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, $2.5 billion for USDA’s Distance Learning, Telemedicine, and Broadband Program, $1.5 billion for HRSA to use to build or repair health centers and/or to purchase equipment, and $85 million for health IT and telehealth technologies within the Indian Health Service. In addition ot this, much of the other HIT money will most likely have telehealth applications. (Source: Federal Telemedicine News)

Two Telehealth Grant Application Windows Open

Fiscal Year 2009 application window is open for the Rural Development's Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program, subject to the availability of funding. The grant may be used to fund telecommunications-enabled information, audio and video equipment and related advanced technologies extend educational and medical applications into rural locations. Grants are made for projects where the benefit is primarily delivered to end users that are not at the same location as the source of the education or health care service. The application deadline is March 24, 2009. More information is here.

Also, HRSA recently released updated information on the Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP). The primary objective of the TNGP is to show how telehealth programs and networks improve access to quality healthcare services in underserved rural and urban communities. The funding for the program is $3,430,000 with 14 awards expected. The closing date for applications is March 6, 2009. More information is here.