Federal Stimulus Updates

This is an exciting time to work in the health information technology and exchange industry, as the healthcare community is sure to see some very significant HIT developments over the next 1-5 years.  Arizona Health-e Connection exists to be an information clearinghouse for HIT and HIE updates, announcements and developments, both at the state and regional level.  We will continue to keep this page up-to-date with the most recent information about the HIT opportunities of the federal stimulus.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 contains a great emphasis on provision of monies and structure to facilitate the adoption of electronic health records, and to establish a National Health Information Infrastructure for the United States.   Most of such ARRA funding is contained in a specific section of ARRA known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act.

Many of the HITECH Act funds available are to flow from the Federal government ultimately to health care providers, or to provide services or infrastructure for those health care providers.   The caveat is that there are requirements for intermediaries at a state or other organizational level between the Federal government and the providers.   These intermediaries will receive and distribute funding, and will provide such services as education and technical assistance, infrastructure development, or pass funds through to other entities (such as Health Information Organizations, HIOs) to build this infrastructure.

For more information on HITECH activities in Arizona, please contact AzHeC by email at info@azhec.org or by phone at 602-288-5130.