$1.2 Billion in Stimulus HIT Funding Available - August 25, 2009

Vice President Biden, Secretary Sebelius, and HIT National Coordinator David Blumenthal announced the availability of $1.2 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act HIT grant funding, primarily to states and state-designated or regional entities. The announcement was made during aroundtable discussion hosted by NAPH Member Sinai Health System in Chicago, IL, August 20th .

Approximately $598 million is available for grants to establish Regional HIT Extension Centers that will offer technical assistance, guidance and information on electronic health records best practices. Preliminary applications for the first of three application cycles are due September 8, 2009. The grant announcement is available here. Another $564 million is available under the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program to help states and state designated entities to develop or align the necessary policies, procedures and network systems to assist electronic information exchange within and across states. Letters of intent to apply are due August 31, 2009. The grant announcement is available here.