Home-Based Telehealth Could Expand During Virus Outbreak

Spurring telehealth to address the coronavirus isn't a matter of technology but of will, said Partnership for Artificial Intelligence and Automation in Healthcare CEO Jonathan Linkous. "It's planning and application," he said. "It takes the will of the federal and state governments." He said broadband availability is crucial: "Accelerating the work of the FCC to provide those services is important." Mobile broadband can speed deployment, he said. "The Lifeline program should also be expanded to give more access to the poor and elderly."

Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., urged the FCC Thursday to “respond to some of the challenges posed by COVID-19 just as it has in the past with disaster response.” It should “consider how the FCC’s existing authority and programs, as well as temporary policies or rule waivers, may be used” here. She cited 2005 temporary rules in response to damage from Hurricane Katrina allowing healthcare providers to seek support for advanced telecom and information services for telehealth (see 0510180101).

“Taking similar actions” now as the FCC did for telehealth after Hurricane Katrina “may allow new or temporary health care facilities tasked with responding to this disease to take advantage of FCC program resources to secure access to connectivity, if and where necessary,” Cantwell wrote Chairman Ajit Pai. She also urged the FCC to “consider what temporary measures” it can take “to pave the way for connected care” between “isolated and quarantined patients (especially low-income patients)” and healthcare professionals. She suggested the FCC consider how its proposed pilot connected care program for low-income consumers (see 2002190049) “or other temporary policies can be part of a nationwide” coronavirus response. The agency is reviewing the letter, said a spokesperson.

"I think she’s right," Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel emailed of Cantwell. "We need to look at how we can help. For example, we should be looking for ways we can quickly facilitate in-home patient monitoring for those quarantined. And we should be examining what we can do to help make sure that kids have the connectivity they need if schools shut their doors and classes go online.”

The connected care pilot, in NPRM stage, would subsidize broadband access to support in-home patient monitoring (see 1906190013). Irving Group's Larry Irving emailed that "the project could be a great tool to help with this crisis." Irving wants the FCC to contact officials "in significantly affected communities such as Seattle and the State of Washington" and for the telecom industry to "proactively seek their advice" on how to assist. "With more announcements coming almost daily about disruptions in Seattle and Washington and with major tech companies such as Microsoft and Amazon being affected, what's learned there can be instructive."

Former FCC acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn favors a team approach to expedite FCC programs and recognizes the agency's budgeting and staffing limitations. She said consumers mightn't be able to digest that it could take 10 years "before phase two or phase three of an FCC initiative is going to be in place" to deploy fiber-based broadband in some communities, "so it's important for us to think in real time so connectivity can be a turnkey reality." She said mobile broadband using licensed and/or unlicensed spectrum could be quicker to deliver.

Utah's Health Department held a conference call Wednesday with telehealth organizations on how to coordinate. Officials are developing a resource directory so public health officials can direct patients to providers that offer telehealth services, said Deb LaMarche, Utah Education & Telehealth Network associate director, in an interview. "It's much more decentralized" than when telemedicine services largely went through central hubs, she said. "There's still a concern for patients that live in areas that do not have good connectivity."

Industry Keeping Watch

USTelecom is monitoring COVID-19 "and closely coordinating with government partners as this public health emergency unfolds," a spokesperson emailed. "Network preparedness, security and resiliency are top priorities for our members."

“The wireless industry is committed to making sure service is there when consumers need it most," emailed Nick Ludlum, CTIA chief communications officer. "We handle fluctuations in data demands every day, and we will be monitoring the situation to ensure we continue to provide services for all consumers.”

"Broadband access has been an ongoing issue when it comes to remote access to care, particularly for rural and underserved communities," emailed Rene Quashie, CTA vice president-policy and regulatory affairs, digital health: "This crisis underscores the need to bolster broadband access in certain communities to ensure that all Americans can receive critical services." CTA in coming days will release guidelines on virtual care, Quashie added. He's the first person at the association to have such a job title.

"I believe the virus is going to have the side effect of increasing the national investment in ubiquitous affordable broadband," emailed Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition Executive Director John Windhausen. "As schools close, and people stay at home, the need for broadband to the home increases exponentially. Remote virtual medicine has a leg up on education. The FCC's Rural Health Care program has been helping to make telemedicine accessible and affordable. By comparison, schools are just beginning to explore how to implement remote tele-education."

Center for Connected Health Policy Executive Director Mei Kwong wants the FCC to expedite its connected care pilot. Even if it does, it would likely take several months to award the money and then more time to set them up, she emailed. She would like ISPs to waive costs for a month in areas hard hit by outbreaks so that everyone who is quarantined could afford broadband even if out of work.

Aetna will waive telemedicine co-pays for the next 90 days to customers who use a CVS MinuteClinic app, the companies announced Friday. "Aetna members should use telemedicine as their first line of defense in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices." Virtual visits can be app-based via mobile and other phone and web devices, an Aetna spokesperson emailed. "They work on cellular and broadband networks."

Microsoft hopes to "support public health and safety by making remote work even easier," emailed a spokesperson. The company shared with its U.S. staff tips from an employee in China on her experiences working remotely during a coronavirus outbreak there.