Sebelius, Blumenthal announce $1.2 billion in EHR grants
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| HHS Secretary and former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Image source: www.governor.ks.gov |
The funding announced today includes:
- Grants totaling $598 million to establish approximately 70 health IT regional extension centers, which will provide hospitals and clinicians with hands-on technical assistance in the selection, acquisition, implementation and meaningful use of certified EHR systems.
- Grants totaling $564 million to states and qualified state-designated entities to support the development of mechanisms for information sharing within an emerging nationwide health information network.
The extension center grants will be awarded on a rolling basis, with the first awards being issued in fiscal year 2010. Grants to states will also be made in fiscal year 2010. Those interested in applying for these grants may visit http://HealthIT.HHS.gov.
During a brief conference call with members of the healthcare media, Blumenthal said the administration is aware of the approaching 2011 “meaningful use” deadline, and that “one of the ways in which we’re reacting to the imminence of the deadline is by doing what we did today—making $1.2 billion available to support the infrastructure necessary for meaningful use.”
HHS will also provide additional assistance to healthcare providers through the Health IT Research Center (HITRC). The HITRC will gather information on “effective practices from a wide variety of sources across the country and help the regional extension centers collaborate with one another and with relevant stakeholders to identify and share best practices in EHR adoption, effective use and provider support.”
The grants will be funded under the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.