HIDI Tech Connect - August 21

$1.2 Billion Grant Funds Available To Implement EHRs 
MHA Staff Contact: Theresa Rogers

Nearly $1.2 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funding is available to help hospitals and other health care providers implement and use electronic health records. The grants include $598 million to establish regional centers to help primary care providers achieve meaningful use of certified EHRs and $564 million to help states develop the infrastructure to exchange electronic health information. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is expected to draft a proposed rule defining “meaningful use” to determine which hospitals and physicians are eligible for more than $17 billion in funding under ARRA’s HITECH provisions.