Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4.3 Million For COVID-19 Telehealth Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4.3 million in federal funding to several Illinois health care providers for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, building on an initiative established as part of the CARES Act. The funding, awarded by the Federal Communications Commission, supports the efforts of health care providers to continue serving their patients by providing reimbursement for telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Telehealth has been an important tool for patients and health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Durbin said. “Today’s federal funding announcement provides patients with more options for connecting with medical personnel to access care. As the pandemic continues to stress our health care system, I will keep working with Senator Duckworth to deliver the resources needed to keep Illinoisans safe.”
“Expanding the reach of Illinois’s healthcare network is critical to extending reliable and accessible care to more Illinoisans, especially as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 public health crisis,” Duckworth said. “I’m proud to join Senator Durbin in announcing this federal support for telehealth services to help our state’s health providers serve their communities in this time of need.”
The following providers received awards in the current round of program funding:
- AllianceChicago in Chicago, Illinois, was awarded $975,124 for the purchase of devices, such as telemedicine carts, and conferencing software, to facilitate telemedicine delivery to high-risk patients.
- Aunt Martha’s Health and Wellness, a system of five healthcare providers in Illinois, was awarded $156,000 for the purchase of remote blood glucose and blood pressure monitors, for the effective remote treatment of hypertension patients.
- The Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois, was awarded $643,231 for the purchase of telemedicine carts and telemedicine software, to provide a significant portion of non-urgent care remotely to a patient population that is both rural and low-income.
- Cook County Health in Chicago, Illinois was awarded $513,356 for the purchase of laptops, monitors, and remote monitoring devices to track vulnerable patients’ vital statistics and recommend appropriate follow-up care while minimizing unnecessary in-person contact.
- Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, a consortium of hospitals throughout Illinois, was awarded $1,000,000 for the purchase of cameras and remote monitoring software, to offer effective patient screening for COVID-19 patients, and to allow health care providers to quickly and efficiently communicate remotely with patients.
- Sinai Health System, a consortium of five hospitals in Chicago, Illinois, was awarded $1,000,000 for the purchase of devices, such as laptops, tablets, and webcams, along with telehealth software, which will allow healthcare providers to offer remote care to vulnerable patients and reduce the risk of COVID-19 exposure.
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