§300jj–32 Health information technology implementation assistance

Summary

The government must set up a program run by the Office of the National Coordinator to help doctors, clinics, and hospitals adopt and use certified electronic health record (EHR) systems that let them share and use health information electronically. The program will create a Health Information Technology Research Center to give technical help, gather and share best practices and evidence, and solve problems that block electronic exchange of health data. The Center must get advice from other federal tech experts (like NIST), from people who use health IT (providers and staff), and from others as needed. Its work includes helping start and evaluate local and regional health information networks and learning what works best in underserved communities. The program must also support regional centers that are linked to U.S. nonprofit groups. Awards will be decided by merit. Regional centers must help providers implement, upgrade, and maintain health IT; spread proven practices; take part in health information exchanges; draw on industry, universities, and State and Federal expertise; and include health IT in workforce training. They should try to help all providers in their area but must give priority to public or nonprofit hospitals (including critical access), federally qualified health centers, providers serving uninsured or medically underserved populations, and small primary care practices or consortia. Federal funding can last up to four years and normally won’t cover more than half of a center’s start-up and yearly costs unless the Secretary notifies Congress and waives that rule. The Secretary had to publish a draft program plan in the Federal Register within 90 days after February 17, 2009. Applications get merit review, centers are evaluated every two years by outside experts and federal officials, and continued funding depends on positive evaluations.