RHC Funding by State
The Rural Health Care (RHC) program is the FCC program, administered by USAC, that helps rural clinics and hospitals afford the connectivity they need for telehealth and day to day operations. FRNHQ indexes the public funding record behind it so you can see committed dollars, the providers serving each state, and the split between the Healthcare Connect Fund and the Telecom Program.
Pick a state to see committed Rural Health Care funding, the top service providers, the Healthcare Connect Fund versus Telecom mix, and activity by year, all drawn from public USAC filings.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia
- Puerto Rico
Two programs, two different markets
The Healthcare Connect Fund is the growth side of RHC: a flat 65 percent discount on broadband circuits, equipment, and connections for eligible providers, with consortium filing that lets a single application cover dozens of clinics. It rewards providers who can serve whole health systems, and its contracts come up for re-bid just like E-Rate circuits do. The Telecom Program is the legacy side: it reimburses the difference between rural and urban rates on telecommunications services, so it matters most in states where rural mileage makes circuits expensive. Each state page shows the split, which tells you which motion is winning business there.
Selling into the program is a different rhythm from E-Rate, with its own forms and windows. Start with our guide to the RHC program for service providers and how broadband providers win Healthcare Connect Fund business.
Common questions about Rural Health Care funding
- What is the Rural Health Care (RHC) program?
- The Rural Health Care program is a federal Universal Service program administered by USAC. It helps eligible rural health care providers afford broadband and telecommunications through two parts: the Healthcare Connect Fund and the Telecom Program.
- What is the difference between the Healthcare Connect Fund and the Telecom Program?
- The Healthcare Connect Fund gives a flat 65 percent discount on broadband services and equipment for eligible providers and consortia. The Telecom Program reimburses the difference between rural and urban rates for telecommunications services.
- Who is eligible for RHC funding?
- Public and not-for-profit health care providers in rural areas, including hospitals, rural health clinics, community health centers, skilled nursing facilities, and community mental health centers. Under the Healthcare Connect Fund, urban providers can also participate as part of a consortium that is majority rural.
- How do service providers win RHC business?
- Eligible providers post requests for services that open a competitive bidding window, then select the most cost-effective bid. Healthcare Connect Fund requests run through FCC Forms 461 and 462; Telecom Program requests run through Forms 465 and 466. Funding requests are filed each year during a defined filing window.
- Where does this data come from?
- Every figure is aggregated from public USAC filings. FRNHQ is an independent product and is not affiliated with USAC.
Also see E-Rate funding by state.