News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 3, 2010

Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

HHS Awards $83.9 Million in Recovery Act Funds to Expand Use of Health Information Technology

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $83.9 million in grants to help networks of health centers adopt electronic health records (EHR) and other health information technology (HIT) systems. The funds are part of the $2 billion allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to expand health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals through its health center program.

“We need health information technology to bring our health care system into the 21st century,” said Sebelius. “This essential technology improves the quality of care we all receive and helps make care more efficient.”

Forty-five grants will support new and enhanced EHR implementation projects as well as HIT innovation projects. Funds will allow grantees to use EHR technology to improve health care quality, efficiency, and patient safety. Eligible professionals practicing within health centers who are able to demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology may be eligible for incentive payments provided under Medicaid and Medicare.

“These funds will help safety net providers acquire state-of-the-art health information technology systems as they work to provide quality health care to millions of people in need,” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N.

Health Center Controlled Networks (HCCNs) improve the operational effectiveness and clinical quality in health centers by providing management, financial, technology and clinical support services. The networks, comprised of at least three collaborating organizations, are community-based groups that support HRSA-funded health centers that provide primary health care to nearly 19 million patients – a number expected to double over the next five years as health reform is implemented.

The grants listed below were awarded through a competitive process:

ARRA - Health Information Technology Implementation Grants

Organization	City	State	Amount
Whatley Health Services, Inc	Tuscaloosa	Alabama	$645,875
Alaska Primary Care Association, Inc.	Anchorage	Alaska	$567,891
Dena' Nena' Henash - Tanana Chiefs Conference	Fairbanks	Alaska	$1,000,000
El Rio Santa Cruz Neighborhood Health Center	Tucson	Arizona	$1,000,000
Golden Valley Health Center	Merced	California	$2,998,013
Association of Asian/Pacific Community Health Organizations	Oakland	California	$1,000,000
Redwood Community Health Network	Petaluma	California	$2,079,598
Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc	San Diego	California	$3,000,000
Community Access HCCN, LLC	San Francisco	California	$2,519,875
Community Health Center Network	San Leandro	California	$3,000,000
Alliance For Rural Community Health	Ukiah	California	$866,031
Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc	Ventura	California	$3,000,000
Colorado Community Managed Care Network	Denver	Colorado	$1,000,000
Southbridge Med. Advisory Council, Inc.	Wilmington	Delaware	$558,114
Health Choice Network, Inc.	Miami	Florida	$2,990,887
Community Health Centers Alliance, Inc.	Saint Petersburg	Florida	$3,000,000
Erie Family Health Center, Inc	Chicago	Illinois	$999,998
Near North Health Service Corporation	Chicago	Illinois	$2,998,849
Illinois Primary Care Association	Springfield	Illinois	$3,000,000
Community Health Integrated Partnership, Inc.	Glen Burnie	Maryland	$2,912,404
Boston HealthNet	Boston	Massachusetts	$2,986,872
Northern Minnesota Network	Isanti	Minnesota	$2,452,568
Coastal Family Health Center, Inc.	Biloxi	Minnesota	$2,987,714
Missouri Coalition for Primary Health Care	Jefferson City	Missouri	$1,000,000
St. Louis Integrated Health Network	St. Louis	Missouri	$1,000,000
One World Community Health Centers	Omaha	Nebraska	$1,511,083
Community Health Access Network, Inc.	Newmarket	New Hampshire	$1,106,358
Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc.	Hammonton	New Jersey	$3,000,000
New Mexico Primary Care Association	Albuquerque	New Mexico	$2,011,000
Charles B. Wang Community Health Center, Inc.	New York	New York	$994,800
Community Health Care Association of New York State	New York	New York	$2,999,983
The Institute for Family Health	New York	New York	$825,709
Finger Lakes Migrant Health Care Project, Inc.	Penn Yan	New York	$997,832
OCHIN Inc.	Portland	Oregon	$3,000,000
Health Federation of Philadelphia	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	$327,169
East Bay Community Action Program	Newport	Rhode Island	$1,574,074
Community Health Network	Oakdale	Tenn.	$2,110,936
Texas Association of Community Health Center	Austin	Texas	$982,587
Lone Star Circle of Care	Georgetown	Texas	$2,987,610
Barrio Comprehensive Family Health Care Center, Inc.	San Antonio	Texas	$2,909,072
Wasatch Homeless Health Care, Inc.	Salt Lake City	Utah	$585,000
Southwest Virginia Community Health Systems, Inc.	Saltville	Virginia	$1,826,240
Bi-State Primary Care Association	Montpelier	Vermont	$2,226,278
PTSO of Washington	Seattle	Washington	$1,361,093
Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association	Madison	Wisconsin	$1,000,000
Total:			$83,901,513

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The activities described in this release are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). More information on ARRA funding for health information technology can be found at: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/index.html#Health

The Health Resources and Services Administration is part of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, ormedically vulnerable. For more information about HRSA and its programs, visit www.hrsa.gov

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: January 03, 2011