news

WASHINGTON—Congressman Paul D. Tonko cheered news today that Albany Medical Center is being awarded $331,429 to support broadband telehealth services, specifically related to high risk pregnancy, postpartum care, opioid use disorder and general mental health care. Rep. Tonko—author of H.R. 1328, the ACCESS BROADBAND Act, which was signed into law last year—pushed for this funding in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) supporting local telehealth programs and stressing the particular urgency because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will be delivered through the FCC COVID-19 Connected Care Pilot Program.

“The COVID crisis has shown telemedicine to be an invaluable part of our health care system, enabling health care providers to connect with and treat their patients where they are quickly, safely and effectively,” Congressman Tonko said. “Despite the vital importance of these services, many across our Capital Region and nation lack meaningful internet access, and those most in need too often suffer the greatest gaps in access. I have pressed the FCC on many occasions to deliver for our underserved communities across New York and beyond. This award shows the FCC and Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel meeting this broadband challenge with the urgency it requires. My congratulations and thanks to the visionary team at Albany Medical Center for developing this worthy program, that will help countless patients and improve access and overall health of our communities.”

Albany Med President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, MD, said, “As the region’s largest health care provider, Albany Med cares for patients in communities from Catskill to Cambridge. Our telemedicine program ensured that the people of our region could access specialized services through the pandemic. In 2020, we completed more than 7,000 virtual visits. This grant will allow us to continue that momentum in 2021 and beyond. We are grateful for Congressman Tonko’s advocacy for our region and recognition of this critical need. Nothing should inhibit a person’s ability to directly connect to care, and this funding allows Albany Med to reach more of our neighbors right where they are, right when they need us most.”

While serving as a tireless broadband advocate in Congress, Tonko has repeatedly delivered support for underserved communities across the Capital Region and beyond. This includes securing Connect America funding to expand broadband services to hundreds of locations across the State; championing federal funding to deliver internet service to more than 46,000 New York locations; spearheading the successful effort to ensure New York’s eligibility for federal rural broadband funds following news that the FCC planned to cut NYS from applying to Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF); and—most recently—including a Town of Westerlo broadband reliability project as one of his top priorities to include for next year’s federal budget.

The FCC Connected Care Pilot Program was established to serve low-income and veteran patients. The program is set to provide up to $100 million in support to health care providers over the next three years. Projects will serve a variety of critical health issues such as high-risk pregnancy and maternal health, chronic disease, mental health conditions, and opioid dependency.

The FCC announced the second set of Connected Care projects on Friday, June 17, selecting 36 new applicants requesting a total of more than $31 million, bringing the total selected to $57 million in funding for 59 pilot projects serving patients in 30 states as well as Washington, DC.

###