Telehealth Resource Center Grant Program

in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations.  The program seeks entities with proven successful records in providing technical assistance in the development of sustainable telehealth programs This funding will support up to five Regional TRCs (RTRCs) serving as focal points for advancing the effective use of telehealth technologies in their respective communities and regions for clinical care.  In addition, this funding will support one National TRC (NRTRC).  The National TRC will focus on policy issues such as: physician and nurse licensure, credentialing and privileging, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, and private insurance payment policies in the context of telehealth.  The National TRC must demonstrate experience with policy issues at the state, local and national levels.  In addition, the National TRC will work with the RTRCs to support their efforts. It is the goal of OAT to have every state covered by a TRC. In this funding cycle, OAT seeks applicants to provide coverage for the following states:  Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Hawaii, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. OAT expects all funded TRCs to collaborate with each other, sharing expertise and resources, thereby creating a network of resource centers with the ample tools needed to meet the technical assistance demands in their respective regions and across the nation. TRCs shall utilize grant funds to:  provide technical assistance, training, and support, for health care providers and a range of health care entities (including HRSA grantees) that provide or will provide telehealth services; disseminate information and research findings related to telehealth services; promote effective collaboration among telehealth resource centers and OAT; conduct evaluations to determine the best utilization of telehealth technologies to meet health care needs; promote the integration of the technologies used in clinical information systems with other telehealth technologies; foster the use of telehealth technologies to provide health care information and education for health care providers and consumers in a more effective manner; and implement special projects or studies under the direction of OAT.