The following was published in Health Data Management on January 26, 2010:
Four more states are joining six others and the U.S. Virgin Islands in receiving matching federal planning funds to implement Medicaid incentive payments for meaningful use of electronic health records.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is issuing the funds, authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
States newly awarded funds include Alaska ($900,000), Kentucky ($2.6 million), South Carolina ($1.48 million) and Wisconsin ($1.37 million).
States and territories must submit plans for CMS approval before receiving matching funds. They will use the funds for such activities as analyzing the current status of health information technology, examining barriers to EHR adoption, establishing eligibility for incentives and creating a long-term state Medicaid HIT plan.
Previously awarded funds went to California ($2.48 million), Georgia ($3.17 million), Idaho ($142,000), Iowa ($1.6 million), Montana ($239,000), New York ($5.91 million), Texas ($3.86 million) and Virgin Islands ($232,000).