Rural networks get $11.9M for health IT

Rural health networks across the U.S. will receive more than $11.9 million to support their adoption of health information technology (HIT) and certified electronic health records (EHR).

The funding, distributed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Resources and Services Administration, will also help these rural health networks' participating eligible providers qualify for Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive payments, administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Each of the 40 grantee organizations will receive about $300,000 to purchase equipment, install broadband networks, and provide training for staff. The pilot program was developed as a result of President Obama's Improving Rural Health Care Initiative, which identifies HIT as a priority area, and the secretary of health's Rural HIT Task Force.

The funding comes from existing appropriations and authorization for the Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program and the Rural Health Network Development Grant Program.

Click here to see a complete list of the grant recipients.