HHS will dole out a total of $11.9 million to rural health clinics through its pilot program to support their adoption of electronic health records (EHR) systems and health information technology (HIT) such as telemedicine equipment, the agency announced Sept. 2 in a news release.
The funding to a total of 40 facilities is through HHS’ Rural Health Information Technology Initiative, aimed at helping rural providers take advantage of CMS’s Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.
“We need health information technology to bring our health care system into the 21st century,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the release. “These funds will help safety net providers acquire state-of-the-art health information technology systems to ensure the delivery of quality care to some of the most remote areas of our country.”
Participating rural facilities will each receive about $300,000 for equipment, network installation and staff training.
Click here for a list of the facilities receiving the grant and here for more information on the Rural Health Information Technology Initiative.