CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $394,400 for Boone Memorial Health Services in Danville, West Virginia. This funding was made available through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Connected Care Pilot Program. The Connected Care Pilot Program provides patient-based, Internet-connected remote monitoring, and video visits for veterans and low-income patients suffering from chronic or long-term conditions and mental health conditions.
“Telehealth is an essential aspect in the future of health care, especially in rural communities like many here in West Virginia,” Senator Capito said. “Providing specialized medical services directly to the people of our state will help our residents overcome so many barriers, and the Connected Care Pilot Program will help accomplish this. In 2019, I hosted FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr for a series of visits in West Virginia to display our need for expanded telehealth services, and Boone Memorial Hospital was one of our stops. Today’s announcement will increase both the quality and access to critical services for residents in southern West Virginia, and I am thankful to the FCC—particularly Commissioner Carr—for listening to my concerns and providing this support for our telehealth initiatives in West Virginia.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of providing quality, accessible telehealth services to West Virginians, especially living in rural communities. I have worked with my bipartisan colleagues on our Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act to ensure rural and underserved community healthcare providers can continue to offer telehealth, including audio-only telehealth services after the COVID-19 pandemic ends,” Senator Manchin said. “I am thrilled Boone Memorial Health Services is participating in the Connected Care Pilot Program which will provide healthcare services to Veterans and low-income West Virginians. I will continue to fight for affordable and accessible healthcare for all West Virginians, regardless of where they live and their financial situation.”
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