Capito, Manchin Announce $406,000 to Expand Telehealth Services at Familycare Health Center in Putnam County

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $406,896 from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the FamilyCare Health Center in Scott Depot, West Virginia to expand telehealth services. This funding will be used to purchase laptops and video conferencing software, as well as improve the network and network security to provide high quality medical services to West Virginians.

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for increased telehealth services at our health care facilities, especially for residents living in more rural areas of our country. Whether it’s our large hospitals or local health centers, telehealth will continue to play a major role in the future of healthcare in our state. I’m proud to help make this announcement for Scott Depot today, and I look forward to the improvements this will make for their medical services and network security,” Senator Capito said.

“Telehealth services continue to help healthcare professionals provide quality care to West Virginians across the state, no matter where they live. I’m thrilled the FCC is investing in FamilyCare Health Center in Putnam County to expand their telehealth services. In the year-end COVID-19 spending package, I fought to include a second round of funding to support telehealth services and called on the FCC to prioritize small, rural providers, like FamilyCare. And I’m continuing to fight to ensure rural healthcare providers can continue offering telehealth services, including audio-only telehealth appointments, after the pandemic ends. I will keep advocating to ensure rural West Virginians and providers have access to the care they need and deserve,” Senator Manchin said.

“With funding from the FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program, FamilyCare Health Centers will extend patients services through the use of innovative technology such as telehealth and remote patients monitoring. We are thankful for the opportunity to better serve our patients,” Craig Glover, President/CEO of FamilyCare Health Centers said.

Earlier this year, the Senators introduced legislation to make the current audio-only telehealth flexibilities permanent to ensure rural and underserved community providers are able to continue offering audio-only telehealth services after the COVID-19 pandemic.

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