Ohio is One of Four States to Receive Federal Matching Funds for Electronic Health Record Incentives Program

In another key step to further states’ role in developing a robust U.S. health information technology (HIT) infrastructure, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that additional federal matching funds for certain state planning activities necessary to implement the electronic health record (EHR) incentive program established by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act). EHRs will improve the quality of health care for the citizens of these states and make their care more efficient. The records make it easier for the many providers who may be treating a Medicaid patient to coordinate care. Additionally, EHRs make it easier for patients to access the information they need to make decisions about their health care.

The releases highlight awards (totaling $6.91 million) of 90 percent federal matching funds for planning activities for the Recovery Act’s Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentives Programs. This batch is part of a rolling announcement that began in November 2009. To date, awards have been given out totaling $81.44 million in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The latest awards went to North Dakota - $226,000, Hawaii - $836,000, Ohio - $2.29 million and Massachusetts- $3.56 million. To view the press release go to https://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp.