Hoyer Announces $5.5 Million Recovery Act Investment in Maryland's Health IT Service Centers

Builds on Previous Heath IT Recovery Funding Awarded to the State 

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $5,535,423 to Maryland's Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients to establish Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers (RECs) throughout the state. RECs will offer on-the-ground technical support, guidance, and information to help accelerate nationwide efforts to ensure that all health care providers' become meaningful users of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). The funding will allow Maryland to participate in the nationwide exchange and use health information in a continuing effort to help reduce health care costs in the long-term, increase patient safety, eliminate duplicative tests and paperwork, and create tens of thousands of jobs in the emerging health IT industry.

"The Recovery Act has meant significant health care resources for Maryland. This grant invests heavily in the future of our state to establish local support centers for health providers and professionals to help implement the use and integration of electronic health records in their practices," stated Rep. Hoyer. "With this additional investment, Maryland health providers can accelerate their efforts to achieve complete electronic health record implementation by 2014."

The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) is Maryland's statewide health information exchange.  It is a not-for-profit coalition including patients, hospital systems, physicians, privacy advocates, technology providers, and public health officials.  With this additional Federal money from the Recovery Act, CRISP together with the State of Maryland, can better provide training and support services to assist doctors, health centers, and other providers in the adoption and meaningful use of EHR systems through RECs.

In addition to today's grant, Maryland has already received the following Recovery Act funding to improve the provision of health information technology, prevent medical errors and reduce overall costs for care:

·         The State Health Information (State HIE) Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program awarded $9,313,924 to the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene in March 2010, as part of a nationwide effort to build capacity for exchanging health information across the health care system. This program builds on existing efforts to advance regional and state-level health information exchange while moving toward a nationwide interoperability.

·         Johns Hopkins University – one of five universities nationwide – received $1,820,000 for the Curriculum Development Centers Program in April 2010 to support health information technology curriculum development.

·         Johns Hopkins University – one of nine universities nationwide –received another $3,752,512 in April 2010 to promptly establish new and/or expand health IT training programs.  Many of these programs can be completed by the trainee in one year or less.