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Background

The Public Health Emergency has made it evident that telehealth is an essential tool to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Telehealth is foundational to the healthcare delivery system, and provides the clinicians the tools they need to treat patients. However, not all Vermonters have the equipment, nor the digital literacy skills, they need in order to successfully participate in telehealth visits. This situation has the potential to exacerbate inequities in health care access, and health outcomes.  To bridge this gap - -

As stated in Act 137 [H.966] 2020: “Sec. 17. COVID-RESPONSE TELEHEALTH CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

The sum of $800,000.00 is appropriated to the Department of Health for the COVID-Response Telehealth Connectivity Program to be administered by the Vermont Program for Quality in Health Care, Inc. (VPQHC) consistent with its mission under 18 V.S.A. § 9416 and with its Connectivity Care Packages (CCP) pilot proposal.”

Desired Outcomes

The purpose of the CCP Program is to support equitable access to telehealth services by providing outreach and educational opportunities that improve digital literacy skills of patients and providers and also by providing the equipment needed to support telehealth needs during the COVID-19 public health emergency, particularly in areas that are digitally and medically underserved and distributed geographically across the State. Conditions of the Program shall include:

To the extent feasible under the timing and funding constraints of this Program, VPQHC shall make every effort to identify and prioritize assistance to vulnerable and high-risk patients in all regions of the State.

VPQHC shall ensure that all expenditures made pursuant to this Program are properly documented and retained, consistent with the requirements of Section 601(d) of the Social Security Act.   

If you are interested in learning more about the Connectivity Care Packages Pilot Program Click Here.