Letter to the Hon. Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission - Senator Hassan Leads Colleagues in Urging FCC to Maintain Focus on Maternal Health in Telehealth Pilot Program

Letter

Dear Chairman Pai:

We write today regarding the Notice of Inquiry (NOI) from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to support access to care using telehealth in the Connected Care pilot program. One fifth of the U.S. population resides in rural communities where it can often be difficult to access health care services, and telehealth has the potential to expand access to necessary care for these populations. This pilot program will help to connect individuals to care where they live.

We were especially pleased to see the emphasis on maternal health care in the NOI. Between 2010 and 2014, nearly 10 percent of rural hospitals closed their obstetrics units, leaving the women who depend on this care with limited options. Telehealth can potentially offer critical and cost-effective solutions to pregnant women, as some of the most common pregnancy-related complications can be avoided with routine monitoring and medical care.

As the FCC moves forward with this pilot program, we request that you maintain the focus on maternal health in the NOI. We also encourage you to work with the Department of Health and Human Services to identify best practices for positive outcomes for mothers and babies by using safe, effective telehealth applications and devices in the Connected Care pilot program.

Getting additional resources to rural and low-income communities is crucial to solving our nation's most pressing health care challenges, including for mothers and babies. Telehealth services can provide an innovative way for individuals to access care, and we look forward to working with you to help connect our most vulnerable populations to the care they need.