FCC Chairman Pai calls for raising rural healthcare budget to $571 million

Healthcare IT News: In an effort to significantly boost funding for the Universal Service Fund’s Rural Health Care Program, and address shortfalls in telemedicine support, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Wednesday circulated a draft order to his colleagues urging immediate action.

Pai seeks to increase the annual fund by $171 million to $571 million, compared to the current annual funding, which has been capped at $400 million since 1997.

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