Feds to review rural health IT grants
The Rural Health Information Technology Network Development (RHITND) Program, designed to financially support health IT adoption in rural or underserved areas, is the subject of an information collection request.
The Health Resources and Services Administration submitted the information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review in the May 24 Federal Register. Comments submitted during the public review will subsequently be provided to OMB.
Officials will review program quality measures including access to care, sustainability, health IT, network development, workforce recruitment and health-related clinical measures, all of which will help gauge the progress of the program.
The RHITND Program represents $12 million in grants and provides one-time funding opportunity to assist networks in achieving EHR Meaningful Use requirements by 2014. Grant funds through this program include support for workflow analysis, EHR strategic plan development, training, purchase of health IT equipment, vendor selection and broadband installation, according to a program overview. Telehealth initiatives, however, are exempt from this funding.
Rural healthcare groups are eligible to receive a maximum of $300,000 annually for a three-year period. Forty RHITND grants were awarded to rural healthcare groups in 2011 and 2012.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.