As health care leaders, we know connectivity is no longer a “nice-to-have” — it’s mission-critical. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), especially those serving rural or underserved communities, often face high costs to maintain broadband and telecommunications services.
Here’s the good news: through USAC’s Healthcare Connect Fund Program, public or non-profit FQHCs can qualify for ongoing funding to significantly reduce those costs.
What is the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF)?
- It’s a program administered by USAC under the Universal Service Fund.
- Its goal is to improve the quality & availability of health care in rural and underserved areas by ensuring eligible health care providers have telecommunications & broadband access.
What kind of funding / discount can FQHCs receive?
- Under the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF), eligible health care providers can get 65% discounts on eligible broadband / connectivity expenses.
- Eligible services include broadband circuits, routers, switches, internet access, network upgrades, and even the construction of new network infrastructure in some cases.
Why this matters for FQHCs:
- Cost savings: freeing up budget that can be re-invested into clinical services or care delivery.
- Improved connectivity enables telehealth, patient record sharing, remote monitoring, etc.
- Scaling capacity: better infrastructure supports growth, higher patient volumes, and more resilient operations.
If your FQHC hasn’t explored this, it’s time to take a look. Contact us to get started today.