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The bulk of Federal Funding under the HITECH Act has been awarded. As State Designated Entities, regional extension centers, beacon communities, universities and community collages and collaborative research teams begin to lay down the foundation for the successful adoption of health IT, the Midwest region has emerged as a model for other parts of the country that are embarking on unchartered territory for them.
The Race to Connectivity Begins Click to Download NYC White Paper
In mid-March, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded 16 states and qualified state-designated entities a total of $165 million under the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program. The second round of grants completed funding for this program, which dispersed a total of $550 million to every state and eligible territory in the United States. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted the importance of states as critical partners in improving and expanding electronic health record systems, and improving the secure exchange of EHRs, which would usher the U.S. healthcare system into the 21st century. David Blumenthal, MD, national coordinator for health IT, said the health information exchange (HIE) awards are critical to enabling care coordination and improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare.
Many states have either submitted or are in the process of submitting their strategic and operational plan to HHS for approval, which is required in order to draw down funds for the build out of HIEs. Some states are far more advanced than others, thanks to visionary leadership from legislators, healthcare systems and communities. New York State is clearly recognized as an early adopter of health IT and a leader in developing HIE policies and procedures. Its work serves as a model for its neighboring states, such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and the rest of the country as the race to connectivity begins.
