§ 54.602   Health care support mechanism.

   (a) Telecommunications Program. Rural health care providers may request
   support for the difference, if any, between the urban and rural rates
   for telecommunications services, subject to the provisions and
   limitations set forth in § § 54.600 through 54.625 and § § 54.671
   through 54.680. This support is referred to as the "Telecommunications
   Program."

   (b) Healthcare Connect Fund. Eligible health care providers may request
   support for eligible services, equipment, and infrastructure, subject
   to the provisions and limitations set forth in § § 54.600 through
   54.602 and § § 54.630 through 54.680. This support is referred to as
   the "Healthcare Connect Fund."

   (c) Allocation of discounts. An eligible health care provider that
   engages in both eligible and ineligible activities or that collocates
   with an ineligible entity shall allocate eligible and ineligible
   activities in order to receive prorated support for the eligible
   activities only. Health care providers shall choose a method of cost
   allocation that is based on objective criteria and reasonably reflects
   the eligible usage of the facilities.

   (d) Health care purposes. Services for which eligible health care
   providers receive support from the Telecommunications Program or the
   Healthcare Connect Fund must be reasonably related to the provision of
   health care services or instruction that the health care provider is
   legally authorized to provide under the law in the state in which such
   health care services or instruction are provided.

   [ 78 FR 13982 , Mar. 1, 2013]

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Telecommunications Program

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