After publishing its draft Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap for public comment last week, the Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology has announced a new funding opportunity of $28 million for ten to twelve grants to states, territories, and state-designated entities to advance the standardized, secure, and interoperable movement of health information across organizations, vendors, and geographic boundaries. While based on the 2009 Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act state health information exchange program, this new funding opportunity intends to support the exchange of health information among a broader set of health care providers, including those that are not participating in the HITECH Act electronic health record Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs (such as long term care programs). Today’s announcement did not provide specifics for application or award timelines.
Ignatius Bau 