By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/06/10/federal-telehealth-bill-heightens-conversation-about-broadband-access-in-rural-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — New
 federal legislation to make pandemic-based telehealth allowances 
permanent has researchers, broadband advocates and lawmakers talking 
about the importance of bridging the digital divide in rural Kansas.The <a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/7/3/731ce77f-3a7c-4ad7-832b-bcf856fab8eb/6E171F608CA0F4B9DDA15D41687F8971.protecting-rural-telehealth-access-act-bill-text.pdf">Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act</a>
 championed by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), alongside Sens. Joe 
Manchin (D-W.Va.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), is 
aimed at ensuring “rural and underserved” health care providers can 
offer telehealth services after the pandemic. Services would include 
audio-only telehealth appointments, acknowledging many rural areas lack 
reliable broadband.Changes
 would include allowing payment-parity for audio-only health services, 
waive any restrictions to allow patients to be treated from home and 
permanently allow rural health clinics and qualified health centers to 
serve as distance sites for telehealth services.“The
 COVID-19 pandemic reiterated the effective and efficient access to care
 telehealth provides to patients, especially those in rural 
communities,” Moran said. “Even after the pandemic ends, our health care
 system should bolster telehealth services as a reliable option to serve
 patients and help expand health care options and availability for rural
 America.”The
 effort may provide relief for those in need of telehealth options, but 
it also acknowledges the digital divide present in rural Kansas. Through
 audio-only options, the proposed legislation is working to circumvent 
gaps in broadband Internet access, something doctors, educators and 
researchers are working to do nationwide and in KansasKansas
 currently ranks 28th in the country for broadband connectivity when 
only four years ago it ranked 40th. This improvement comes after the 
establishment of a broadband expansion task force, millions in funding 
for broadband infrastructure construction grants and pandemic relief 
aid.Gov.
 Laura Kelly also established the Office of Broadband Development to 
focus on coverage and gaps in Kansas. Funds from the federal American 
Rescue Plan will go toward broadband improvements.At
 the Institute for Policy and Social Research at the University of 
Kansas, a team of researchers surveyed students who attend Kansas Board 
of Regents colleges and universities about access to the internet. They 
hope to address data from the Federal Communications Commission 
suggesting Kansas residents, especially rural areas, lack stable 
connections.Now, Kansas residents can <a href="https://ipsr.ku.edu/broadband/kansas.shtml">fill out the survey online</a> and contribute to their work.“The
 information we’ve received about uneven and inadequate internet access 
among KBOR students has been valuable, but there are still a lot of 
geographic areas of Kansas that we know very little about in terms of 
internet access and options for service provision,” said Germaine 
Halegoua, an associate professor at KU. “Policymakers still lack 
essential knowledge about internet affordability and quality in rural as
 well as urban areas. We’re hoping that our statewide survey fills in 
those gaps.”The
 expanded survey will gather more information on slow connection areas 
and data on service availability and cost. Results will be shared with 
residents, internet service providers and state lawmakers to address 
policy or infrastructure needs.Although the <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/hb2134/">Legislature last month imposed restrictions</a> on the number of remote learning hours, addressing these needs could prove crucial for educators and Kansas students.&nbsp;There
 are still up to 40 hours provided of remote learning, or more in 
certain cases if waived by the school board. With the internet becoming 
increasingly important in education, advocates nationwide are pushing 
for increased funding to bridge the digital divide.“When
 I think about personalized learning, when I think about digital 
learning, to me it comes down to opportunities. Are we offering the 
opportunities that our kids need to thrive?” said Thomas C. Murray, director of innovation for <a href="https://futureready.org/">Future Ready Schools</a>.

Telehealth bill heightens conversation about broadband access in rural Kan.