The American Hospital Association (AHA) submitted a letter to a bipartisan group of senators on May 7, calling for Congress to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program is crucial for providing benefits that support access to high-speed internet, which is vital for patients to access essential 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 offers eligible households discounts of $30 per month towards internet service. Additionally, qualifying households in tribal lands can receive up to $75 per month in benefits. However, without legislative action, these benefits will decrease to $14 this month before completely expiring in June.
The AHA emphasized the critical role that the Affordable Connectivity Program plays in supporting equitable access to healthcare. Without continued access to affordable high-speed internet, patients may face disruptions in their care. The AHA urged Congress to extend the program before it expires and prevent any potential interruption in patient care.
The current environment has made telehealth increasingly important for patients’ access to quality healthcare services. As such, ensuring continued access to affordable high-speed internet is more critical than ever. Patients need reliable internet connections for telemedicine appointments, remote monitoring of their health conditions and other essential services.
In conclusion, extending the Affordable Connectivity Program would prevent disruptions in patient care and ensure continued equitable access to quality healthcare services. The AHA strongly urges Congress to act swiftly and pass legislation that extends the program before it expires.
