Telecommunications & USAC

CHC Consulting leverages their expertise in telecommunication management to dial down the cost of telecom services and network infrastructure. Through our USAC program, we deliver funding while looking for lower rates, and we always save our hospital clients money.  Always.

Rural hospitals tend to pay more for telecommunications services, but CHC Consulting is changing that, one hospital at a time. We maximize your access to federal funding so you save more – often 60 to 90 percent – on your telecom costs.

The savings come from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). Each year USAC makes available $400 million in funding through the Rural Health Care (RHC) Programs to ensure that qualifying rural healthcare providers — or urban-area hospitals that draw from rural areas or have rural clinics — can obtain telecom services at rates comparable to urban providers. To account for inflation, the cap for the current funding year (2020) increased to $604,759,306.

As an additional benefit, RHC’s Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) allows healthcare systems to request support as a single entity including non-rural facilities that are part of a largely rural consortium.

Our Services Include:

 

Turnkey Solution: CHC Consulting takes charge of Funding Process Management including strategy, eligibility and application, as well as the RFP, bidding and negotiation processes. We also help with documentation to USAC and ongoing monitoring and reapplication to USAC in future years.

Program Evaluation and Planning: We analyze your hospital’s current telecommunications services and costs. Based on that information, we make recommendations to improve your service and reduce your cost.

Training and Support: Onsite or web-based support and training options for your staff.

HCF Consortium Setup: CHC Consulting helps qualified healthcare providers establish their own consortium and obtain funding.

USAC Program Denial Appeal Support: CHC Consulting can jump in and work on your behalf to adjudicate denied funding requests.

Benefits

  • Access. Improve telecommunications services through increased Internet access along with improved telemedicine options.
  • Savings. Save money and time as CHC steps in to manage the telecom vendor and facilitate communications with USAC.
  • Transparency. Gain expertise and education to help you understand each step of the process.
  • Value. Receive the lowest total cost. We never add unnecessary services that maximize savings but also add cost. We add value by providing access to our industry connections.
  • Common-sense pricing. Receive competitive fees based on savings generated and work required. Our mission to help hospitals sets us apart from consultants who command a higher percentage of USAC funding as payment for their services.
  • Pay as you go. Stop fees as soon as your hospital no longer needs a service; we don’t require full-year fees.

Solutions

CHC Helps Hospitals Dial Down Telecom Expenses

In at least one respect, rural hospitals are no different than metropolitan hospitals — both need advanced telecom systems and robust data circuits for optimal patient experiences and clinical outcomes. However, these services typically cost more for rural health care providers, making it difficult to keep up with the latest advancements. This is where Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) can help. Accessing a government program, CHC Consulting, the management and consulting arm of CHC, helps eligible hospitals obtain federal funding earmarked specifically to address this discrepancy. With telecom as well as...

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Savings as Easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Send us one month’s telecommunication bills.
2. Our proprietary tool determines the best approach and estimated savings.
3. We take action to meet or exceed estimated savings for you.

Find out how much your hospital can save through USAC.

Contact the USAC Team
“It’s not a set dollar amount that you get or don’t get by applying. Having an expert negotiate on your behalf maximizes the funding you receive and the savings you realize.”
Whittney Walker,
Vice President of Telecom Services