DeGette Applauds ARRA Funds for Health Information Technology

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, today applauded the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) award to Colorado health care organizations by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Secretary Sebelius announced awards totaling $27.8 million – over $2 million in Colorado – to health center-controlled networks and large multi-site health centers to implement Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other health information technology (HIT) innovations. The funds are part of the $2 billion allotted to HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under the ARRA to expand health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals through its health center program.

"Investing in health information technology is a key component of fixing our broken health care system," said DeGette. "These funds will be used to expand and upgrade Electronic Health Records systems that are critical to providing health care to those who need it. Efficient health information technology helps improve the safety and quality of health care across the country."

Electronic Health Record Implementation Initiative Grants, FY 2009

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless - Denver, CO $1,865,625

In August, U.S. Rep. DeGette and Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless' Stout Street Clinic to see first-hand how ARRA funds were utilized in the delivery of local health care services. The Stout Street Clinic is investing heavily in Electronic Health Records putting them at the forefront of health care reform.

Electronic Health Record Quality Improvement Grants, FY 2009

Colorado Community Managed Care Network - Denver, CO $250,000

Eighteen grants totaling more than $22.6 million will support EHR implementation. Grants totaling more than $2.6 million will help four grantees implement a variety of HIT innovations, including health information exchanges among different providers and bringing HIT to dental delivery sites. Another five grants totaling over $2.5 million will help health centers devise plans to use existing EHRs to improve patient health outcomes. HRSA received $2 billion through ARRA to expand health care services to low-income and uninsured individuals through its health center program. To date, more than $1.3 billion of these funds have been awarded to community-based organizations across the country. HRSA-supported health centers treated 17 million patients in 2008, 40 percent of whom have no health insurance.

In addition, HRSA received $500 million in ARRA workforce funds -- $300 million to expand the National Health Service Corps and another $200 million for other health workforce programs. The NHSC funds will pay for student loan repayments for primary care medical dental and mental health clinicians who wish to practice, for a minimum of two years, in NHSC sites that treat underserved and uninsured people. Recently, awards totaling $33 million – part of the $200 million total – were announced to expand the training of health care professionals.