AAFP to FCC: Improve Rural Telehealth to Support Primary Care

February 05, 2018 01:01 pm News Staff – As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering how to support telehealth in rural areas, the AAFP offered recommendations to help ensure that practices receive the support they need and patients have the benefit of longitudinal care from a primary care physician.

The FCC published a proposed rule(www.gpo.gov) in the Jan. 3 Federal Register with the goal of expanding telehealth services in areas of need. The proposal includes changes on a wide range of issues, from the annual budget of the Rural Health Care (RHC) program to distribution of funding based on community needs.