July 2003

RHCD Offers Tips for Completing Form 466 (7/10/03)

Over 100 applicants so far have taken advantage of the new online, e-certable Form 466 for Funding Year 2003. Based upon applicant questions and the forms submitted thus far, RHCD has compiled some tips for successfully completing Form 466.

Please remember that e-certing Form 466 online is not the end of the process. For the form to be processed, RHCD must also have documentation of your rural rate (Block 4, Line 33). Applicants must send RHCD a copy of a bill, contract, or letter from their telecommunications carrier that verifies the rate being paid. This information is required from all applicants, regardless of how they are requesting support. Applicants who do not use the RHCD provided urban rates for their urban/rural comparison may also need to submit documentation of their urban rate. Applications cannot be processed until this information is received.

Applicants seeking mileage-based support should note the instructions for Block 5. The monthly mileage charges (Block 5, Line 36) should only include charges associated with additional mileage on the circuit, i.e. per-mile rates, or rates assessed for addtional mileage. Channel termination charges and other fixed charges for the circuit should not be included. If the information in this line is equal to the service cost per month (Block 4, Line 33), processing may be delayed while RHCD ensures that only charges associated with mileage are included on Line 36.

Applicants seeking support for the urban/rural rate difference should note that the space for the monthly rural rate is located in Block 4, Line 33 as "Service Cost per Month".

The instructions for Form 466 contains these items and other helpful information. Please make sure to look over the instructions before completing the form.

RHCD has also assembled a sample Form 466 with tips and suggestions. The file is downloadable in .pdf format (Filesize: 479kb).

The Rural Health Care Customer Service Support Center will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2003 (7/1/03)

The Rural Health Care Customer Service Support Center will be closed on Friday, July 4, 2003 in observance of Independence Day. The Customer Service Center will resume normal operations on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 8:00 a.m., ET.

Archived Announcements

Below are links to past announcements posted on this web site. Access previous announcements by clicking on a month listed below.