Today! the FCC will host a workshop to discuss the role of Healthcare for the National Broadband Plan.
For those who can’t attend in person they will be streaming the seminar online!
Time: 1:30 pm EDT
You’ll need to register to attend the webinar.
Bottom line the FCC has decided to try and bring more open dialogue between the FCC and key constituents on matters important to the National Broadband Plan. According to the FCC key constituents will include service providers, equipment providers, applications providers, community groups, and other groups that have a stake in the future of broadband – that sounds like pretty much everybody! And I agree, I think we all should be way more involved and concerned about the lack of broadband competition and usage. Think of how much broadband has afforded you and how much you may take it for granted – well there are millions who are without it!
The goal of this specific workshop on Healthcare is to gather information concerning how and where broadband networks are deployed to provide telehealth services throughout the nation. In addition, workshop participants will be encouraged to provide examples of successful telehealth programs and will be asked to identify whether telehealth diagnosis and treatment is covered under medical insurance. Information and data obtained in this workshop will enhance the Commission’s understanding of the barriers facing the health care community in accessing broadband telehealth connectivity as the Commission develops the National Broadband Plan.
Some of the questions that should be addressed include:
1) What benefits can broadband bring to healthcare providers? To patients?
2) Do facilities in the health care industry have adequate access to broadband?
3) In what ways has the universal service Rural Health Care Program, including the Rural Health Care Pilot Program, increased broadband access to health facilities?
5) To what extent do health insurance plans currently cover telemedicine diagnoses and treatments?
6) How can broadband facilitate efficient, effective, and secure access to medical records? To the extent that greater safeguards are required, how can they be developed and implemented?
7) What benefits can broadband bring to federal, regional, and local emergency responders? Do they have the connectivity and coordination they need, and if not, where and why not?
8) What is the cost of deploying additional broadband infrastructure to these areas, facilities, and responders?