HHS funds improvements for HIEs fighting infectious disease

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will provide $48.8 million in awards to states, cities and territories to bolster epidemiology, laboratory and health IT systems for the purpose of fighting infectious disease.

Five cities, 49 states and Puerto Rico will receive funds to help providers achieve meaningful use through laboratory reporting by improving health information exchange within their boundaries and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The “awards support the work of public health departments to prevent, track and respond to new and emerging infectious diseases,” HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in an Aug. 16 statement.

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