HHS on Sept. 29 released $27.8 million to 27 health center networks and multi-site health centers to implement specific electronic health records (EHR) and health information technology (HIT) programs. The grants are part of funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) (PubLNo 111-5) to expand health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals.
Related to HIT, David Blumenthal, HHS' national coordinator for HIT, announced on Oct. 1 that CMS will issue a proposed rule by December 31, 2009, defining “meaningful use” in the context of the adoption of HIT. As part of ARRA's Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, physicians and hospitals can receive financial incentive payments for the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
Blumenthal noted that “the concept of meaningful use is simple and inspiring, but we recognize that it becomes significantly more complex at a policy and regulatory level. As a result, we expect that any formal definition of `meaningful use' must include specific activities health care providers need to undertake to qualify for incentives from the federal government. He noted that HHS also will be defining “certified electronic health records,” the adoption of which is another requirement to quality for HIT incentives.
Other funds released
HHS also provided $40 million in grants to 69 grantees in 41 states and the District of Columbia to help them find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The funds were authorized under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 (PubLNo 111-3). Twenty percent of the finds released will target Hispanic children; 11 percent will focus on homeless children and 7 percent on Native American/Alaska Native children.
HHS also awarded $7.6 million to 63 grantees to help states recruit new health care clinicians and alleviate their debt burden. The funds were provided under ARRA.
Finally, HHS also released $120 million provided for under ARRA for prevention and wellness programs funded by states. The funds will be used for programs focusing on statewide policy and environmental change, tobacco cessation, and initiatives to create health-promoting policies and environments.
CMS Chicago Bureau, Oct. 6, 2009
For more information on this and related topics, consult the CCH® Medicare and Medicaid Guide.
Visit our News Library to read more news stories.
