NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program
Up to $3M of funding to undertake a telehealth pilot
About
The NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program(Grant DoHA/274/1112) aims to demonstrate how the National Broadband Network (NBN) infrastructure enables better access to high quality healthcare services, particularly in aged care, palliative care or cancer care, using telehealth services in the home.
The NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program will fund telehealth pilots in those areas that will first receive the NBN, with a focus on:
- aged care
- palliative care
- cancer care.
Selected NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots funded will have the potential to deliver significant improvements to the delivery of health services to patients, particularly those in regional, remote and outer metropolitan areas. Participating consumers could access high‐quality health services from the comfort and convenience of their homes. This may, for example, include the remote monitoring of their vital health indicators, and access from home to high‐definition video consultations and healthy living support.
Each NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program proposal for a pilot project must demonstrate it is both cost‐effective and scalable outside of the initial NBN sites. Each will run for up to two years, beginning in 2012.
Objectives
The objective of the NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program is to demonstrate how the NBN infrastructure enables better access to high quality healthcare services, particularly in aged care, palliative care or cancer care, using telehealth services in the home.
Specifically, the NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program seeks to develop and trial services which demonstrate how, for example:
- telehealth services can be delivered to the home in new and innovative ways, enabled by the high speed, reliable broadband provided by the NBN;
- health services can become more accessible, in regional, rural, remote and outer metropolitan areas;
- health related transport needs can be reduced;
- infrastructure may reduce social isolation (ensuring social isolation is not increased by the use of telehealth services).
- consumers can collaborate and communicate with their carers and health service providers to improve quality of care and health outcomes;
- telehealth services can improve early identification of health issues and reduce unnecessary hospitalisation;
- telehealth services are scalable and able to provide an increased volume of care without a corresponding increased cost;
- location dependent or regional health workforce skills shortages may be mitigated;
- use of the infrastructure may increase healthcare access and reduce social isolation; and
- communication during health emergencies could be improved.
The NBN will provide a platform that allows homes, doctors’ surgeries, pharmacies, clinics, aged‐care facilities and allied health professionals to connect to affordable, reliable, highspeed and high‐capacity broadband. This represents a major opportunity to improve the way healthcare is delivered in Australia.
What will be funded?
The NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applications which will be considered for funding must comply with the Program, allowing patients, selected on a clinical basis, to receive services such as:
- home video-consultation to allow patients to communicate with relevant health providers;
- home monitoring of health indicators and issuing of alerts where required to local health professionals; or
- healthy living support.
Successful NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applicants will, subject to the terms and conditions of the Funding Agreement, use project funding for the purpose of achieving the Programs aims. NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program funding can be used for capital and infrastructure purposes. Some examples of the appropriate funds usage are:
- equipment (e.g. telehealth monitoring equipment, tablet devices or computers including service provider computers);
- service delivery (unless this is funded through alternative sources);
- cost of access to broadband internet services (e.g. for patients to participate in the trial);
- staffing and on-costs, including appropriate training for healthcare practitioners and patients;
- administrative costs (including legal, accounting and insurance); and
- costs to support the local steering / reference group.
Project funds can be used for the initial establishment of the secure networks, licensing software, patient internet access, etc where it has not previously been funded and/or does not already exist in the practice. The Applicant would have to demonstrate the need for such a system in its Application for funding. Project funds could cover the costs of managing and operating the telehealth system for the duration of the project. Any ongoing costs beyond the project’s life would be the responsibility of the Applicant or the patient as appropriate.
What Will Not Be Funded?
NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applications will not be accepted from:
- individuals;
- non incorporated organisations; or
- Applicants who do not hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN).
While these individuals / organisations are not eligible to receive funding in their own right, it is possible for them to enter into a business arrangement (at the discretion of the Applicants) with an organisation that is eligible to apply, nominating the eligible organisation as the lead organisation (see Section 2.2 of the guidelines).
NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applications that are not eligible for funding include those that:
- do not meet the selection criteria;
- do not have or plan to have the required minimum levels of insurance; or
- benefit only a sole individual or organisation with no impact on the wider community.
Who Can Apply for the Funding?
For legal and accountability reasons, only incorporated bodies are eligible to apply for funding under the NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program. The types of organisations that may apply for funding include organisations and consortia involved in providing services in the areas of aged care, palliative care and cancer care. Consortia must identify a lead organisation. NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applications are encouraged from a wide range of organisations including those which specialise in the delivery of telehealth in regional, rural, and remote areas.
NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program applicants do not have to have a prior funding relationship established with the Department.
Lead Applicants for funding under the NBN Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program must be legal entities representing either:
- a recognised provider of health services;
- a body representing recognised providers of health services;
- a not-for-profit organisation or private organisation that provides health or health related services; or
- state and territory organisations.
Funding
Up to $20.6 million (GST exclusive) of the NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program funding will be available to fund projects over the life of the Program.
The NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program commences on 1 July 2012 and concludes on 30 June 2014. The amount of funding provided for individual Telehealth Pilots will generally be around $1 million to $3 million (GST exclusive). Higher levels of funding may be available for Pilot projects that are able to demonstrate exceptional prospective benefits. Except where there are existing provisions in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), financial support to healthcare providers for in‐home care will not be available through MBS rebates. This does not restrict the applicant’s ability to use the project funds to support payments to healthcare providers, where it is deemed necessary for the project.
NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program Funding can be used for capital and infrastructure purposes. Some examples of the appropriate funds usage are;
- Equipment, for example tablet devices or computers;
- service provider computers;
- service delivery (unless this is funded through alternative sources);
- staffing and on‐costs;
- administrative costs ( including legal, accounting and insurance); and
- costs to support the local steering / reference group.
Co‐Contributions
The Australian Government’s contribution to the cost of a project will be determined on a case‐by‐case basis. In considering the level of its contribution the Australian Government will have regard to a project’s business case level of risk, and potential to deliver benefits.
Private and community organisations are encouraged, but not required, to include cocontributions as part of their application. Project proponents should specify the level and type of co‐contributions that they are offering. The level of co‐contribution that is offered will be taken into account in competitive assessment of project proposals.
The availability of cash contributions and/or matched funds will be considered more favourably in the assessment process. Other contributions may include property, access to infrastructure, services, personnel time, project management and professional advice. All specified contributions must be needed to fulfil the project’s outcomes and benefits and must be applicable within the timeframe of the project.
Funding for an activity that has been sourced from another Commonwealth program will be disregarded for the purpose of assessing the level of co‐contribution that is being offered.
State or territory government funded organisations must also show evidence of matched funding or in‐kind contributions from the relevant state or territory government.
Timeframes
The Department anticipates that it will select the successful funding Applicants before the end of June 2012. The Department will contact the successful Applicants after they have been selected to discuss the preparation of the Funding Agreement (see clause 9 below).
Key dates include:
- announcement of Program occurred on 22 January 2012;
- call for Applications will open April 2012, with Applications closing May 2012;
- pilots will be announced when Funding Agreements are executed;
- Funding Agreements will commence by July 2012;
- submission of project implementation plans will be required as a first project deliverable;
- quarterly and annual reports will be required;
- final overall project reports will be required by June 2014; and
- an evaluation of the Program will be completed in 2014.
Expert Assistance
We have also raised almost $1 M of telehealth grants and $300,000 for NBN grants. We have a 100% success rate in this area. We also have direct experience with $15M + health grant applications. We can provide assistance with all aspects of this grant. Contact us on 03 9005 6789 or email to see how we can assist you further.
Areas where we can assist with your NBN‐Enabled Telehealth Pilots Program application include demonstrating:
- alignment to the National E‐Health Strategy (the National Digital Economy Strategy and the PCEHR) ;
- a strong need for the development of telehealth service delivery (needs analysis, statistics, gaps in the market, consultation with health providers, expected benefit, complement to other programs
- that the proposed project will be completed to a high standard within the required timeframe and budget. (who will manage the project, risk management, resource availability, collaboration support, sustainability plan, local reference group, evaluation)
- a clear and logical budget (financial model, documented assumptions, cost control, auditing process, letters of financial commitment)
- feasibility of the technology (identify any dependencies or limitations, cost effectiveness, ongoing support, standards)
- How the NBN will be utilised (extended service delivery, differentiation from current services, number of participants, demonstration of roll out)
- the proposed services would be scalable and sustainable ( full deployment options, timing, resource requirements, evidence of wider adoption, project evaluation )
- expected health outcomes and benefits
- an ability to evaluate, both qualitatively and quantitatively, the impact of the telehealth model of health service delivery (baseline reports, pilot opportunity, feedback, usage metrics, ongoing cost)
More information
Applications close at 2 pm Canberra Time (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on 17 May 2012 (Closing Time).
