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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on November 19, 2007, grant awards of over $417 million for the development of 69 broadband telehealth networks in 42 states and three territories as part of the agency’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program.  Two Mississippi applications were among those approved for funding:

1. As One – Together for Health: This project will develop a new statewide non-dedicated telehealth network that will connect approximately 260 facilities through web-based conferencing tools.  The application was submitted by the Division of Medicaid in collaboration with the State Department of Health, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Alcorn State University. Maximum support = $1,912,964. 

1. University of Mississippi Medical Center: This project will upgrade an existing network and extend coverage to approximately 90 mostly rural facilities to provide telehealth, web-based patient education, and links to the University’s knowledge base.  Maximum support = $3,918,319.

The FCC’s press release announcing these grants notes that nationwide this program will support the connection of more than 6,000 public and non-profit health care providers.  Telehealth and telemedicine services provide patients in rural areas with access to critically needed medical specialists.  The networks are expected to improve the efficiency of service delivery, reduce costs and travel time for consumers, decrease medical errors, enable health care providers to share critical information, and expedite rapid and coordinated responses to public health emergencies.

For more information, visit the program's web site at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/rural/rhcp.html#orders .