Wis. Admin. Code Public Service Commission § PSC 160.115 - Medical telecommunications equipment program
(1)For purposes of
this section:
(a) "Initial application" means
the first application for universal service fund support under this section
that an applicant files in a state fiscal year.
(b) "Non-profit medical clinic" includes any
clinic or hospital that meets all of the following:
1. Is a non-profit organization governed by a
board of directors.
2. Serves
federally designated health professional shortage areas as defined in
42 USC 254e(a)
(1), medically underserved areas, or
medically underserved populations.
3. Does one or both of the following:
a. Provides services to all patients
regardless of insurance status.
b.
Uses a sliding fee scale for uninsured patients based on income
status.
(c)
"Public health agency" includes the department of health services, any local
health department as defined in s.
250.01(4),
Stats., and any health care facility or program operated by a tribe or tribal
organization under the Indian Self-Determination Act (
25
USC 450f et seq.)
(2)The commission may grant funding to
non-profit medical clinics and public health agencies for the purchase of
telecommunications equipment for any of the following purposes:
(a) To promote technologically advanced
medical services.
(b) To directly
or indirectly enhance access to medical care in rural or underserved areas of
the state, or both.
(c) To directly
or indirectly enhance access to medical care by underserved populations or
persons with disabilities in the state, or both.
(3)The commission may grant a maximum of
$500,000 in universal service fund support granted under this section per state
fiscal year, or $1,000,000 per state biennium.
(4)
(a) An
applicant for universal service fund support under this section may not, in its
application, request disbursement of support for a time period longer than that
specified in the solicitation for grant applications.
(b) All applications shall become public
documents upon filing.
(5)An applicant for funding shall include all
of the following in its application:
(a) A
description of the telecommunications equipment for which universal service
fund support is requested.
(b) An
explanation of how the applicant's purchase of the telecommunications equipment
will support the purposes identified in sub. (2).
(c) Identification of the vendor that may
supply the telecommunications equipment.
(d) A description of how the portion of the
purchase price not covered by universal service fund support, if any, will be
paid for.
(e) A description of the
steps taken to secure the telecommunications equipment at reasonable
prices.
(f) A statement certifying
that the universal service fund support will be used for the purpose
granted.
(g) Any other information
that the commission considers necessary.
(6)
(a) The
commission shall evaluate all applications submitted under this section. The
commission may approve all or part of an application if it includes the
information required under sub. (5) and if the commission determines the
following:
1. The applicant is a non-profit
medical clinic or public health agency located in Wisconsin.
2. The applicant's purchase of
telecommunications equipment will support the purposes identified in sub.
(2).
3. The applicant will be able
to pay for the portion of the cost of the equipment not funded under this
section.
4. The applicant has taken
steps to secure the equipment at reasonable prices.
(b) Public health agencies and non-profit
organizations that operate more than one location may receive universal service
fund support for telecommunications equipment at more than one location, but
before approving an application involving an additional location, the
commission shall consider how much total universal service fund support has
been received by the agency or organization during the time period specified in
the solicitation for grant applications and the total amount remaining
available to be granted under this section during that time period.
(c) The commission may give preference to
initial applications filed by a public health agency or non-profit medical
clinic.
(d) The commission may
convene a panel of experts to assist in the evaluation of applications
submitted under this section.
Notes
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