The Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) program is a federal initiative that provides up to 65% subsidy on eligible broadband and network-related costs for qualifying healthcare providers. In other words, it’s a way to significantly cut your hospital or clinic’s internet and networking expenses through FCC funding. We handle the paperwork to get you these savings so you can focus on patient care, not bills.

Eligibility depends on your facility type, location, and how you’re connected. Generally, non-profit hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities can qualify, especially those in rural areas (or part of a mostly-rural consortium).

Not sure if you tick all the boxes? Check out our Eligibility Checklist (your quick guide to the criteria) or schedule your free consult. We’ll help confirm if your organization qualifies and estimate how much you could save.

A wide range of connectivity needs are covered. Subsidies can apply to recurring services like broadband and internet access, point-to-point data circuits (like Ethernet lines), network management, and network infrastructure That includes core and edge equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls, and even certain telehealth network gear. Check out a more detailed list of eligible items here.

Not in every case, but it can greatly increase your funding potential. The HCF program rewards collaboration. Healthcare sites get more support when providers band together. 

That’s why HealthConnect Networks automatically provides consortium membership to every client we work with.  You don’t have to worry about forming or finding a consortium on your own; we’ve got that covered to maximize your eligibility.

Yes, a competitive bidding (or RFP) process is required by the FCC. But don’t let that intimidate you. We have RFP experts on staff who handle this for you. They’ll draft the Request for Proposal (RFP), post it for vendors, and manage the 28-day bidding period in accordance with all the rules. You’ll simply review the bids at the end. So while an RFP is necessary to get the best deals (and comply with program rules), you won’t be stuck writing or managing it alone.

It varies, but be prepared for it to span multiple months from start to finish. Don’t worry; this isn’t heavy lifting on your part. A lot of that time is just waiting for review windows and approval steps. On average, completion of all the federal forms and bidding can take around 3-4 months, depending on factors like your organization’s size, the time of year, and vendor response times. The good news: we take care of everything behind the scenes, keeping you updated but freeing you from the daily workload. It’s basically “set it and forget it”; we’ll do the paperwork and legwork, and you’ll hear from us only when you need to.

You absolutely can tackle the HCF program on your own, but many healthcare IT and finance teams tell us the same thing: it’s time-consuming and difficult to navigate. The federal requirements, forms, and deadlines can feel like a second full-time job. We’ve seen hospitals spend months on it only to miss out due to a small error or missed deadline. Our service exists to save you that headache and significantly increase your chances of funding. We’re experts at this process (with a proven track record of securing funding for healthcare providers nationwide). In short: you focus on patient care and running your facility, we’ll focus on getting you the maximum savings (and keep those savings coming year after year!).

You stay in control of choosing your equipment and service vendors. HealthConnect Networks will manage the RFP and bidding process to ensure it’s fair and by-the-book, but the decision is ultimately yours. We’ll present the options and help answer any questions about the bids, but you select the vendor(s) that best fit your needs on criteria like cost, service, and reliability. (In fact, that’s an FCC rule – the healthcare site makes the final choice.) Rest assured, we make it easy by providing clear comparisons, but you’ll always make the call for your organization.

Absolutely! We support both new applicants and existing HCF participants. If you’re already receiving HCF funding (whether you applied on your own or through another party), we can step in to make sure you’re getting the most out of it and even take over the administrative workload going forward. Many clients come to us after struggling with the annual re-application or tiring of managing it themselves. Switching to our service is seamless: we’ll handle the transition paperwork and coordinate with USAC so your funding continues without a hitch. Just reach out and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

Yes, and we love that you asked. We’re proud of the healthcare providers we’ve helped, and we’re happy to connect you with references upon request. HealthConnect Networks has assisted clinics and hospitals of all sizes across the country, from small rural clinics to large urban hospital systems. If you’d like to speak with a peer who has navigated this process with our help, let us know. We’ll provide you with references from organizations just like yours so you can move forward with confidence.