Grants will support technologies to control costs and enhance quality of health care

February 16, 2010 ... Sen. Richard T. Moore, a Democrat from Uxbridge who is Senate Chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, recently joined Governor Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation in announcing that Massachusetts has secured $25.6 million in federal funding to support health information technology initiatives in the Commonwealth. Massachusetts will receive a $15 million grant to support the implementation of electronic health records for approximately 2,500 health care providers in small group practices across the Commonwealth and an additional $10.6 million grant to support the development of a secure network to support a statewide health information exchange.

Sen. Richard T. Moore (left), accepting the SafeRx Award for Massachusetts from Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, at the 4th Annual SafeRx Awards in Washington, DC in June of 2009. The SafeRx Awards are presented every year by Surescripts, the country's leading health IT company, to recognize states' usage of e-prescribing technology. Massachusetts has ranked #1 in the nation for the third year in a row. Sen. Moore is a leading advocate for health IT, and was integral in the Commonwealth recently receiving the maximum of $25.6 million in federal funds to expand health IT.

Electronic records enable providers to have instant access to vital information about a patient’s lab results and medical history that may impact treatment decisions. These proven technologies help reduce costs by eliminating unnecessary or duplicative tests, reducing errors and improving health care decision-making. 

"If we're going to get real results from real health care reform, information technology is one of the keys to success," Sen. Moore explained. "In a state that has a reputation as a leader in health care and a leader in technology, it is very fitting that we continue to lead the nation in health information technology. These federal grants will keep us in the forefront to provide safe, effective health care for our citizens.”

Sen. Moore, who is President-Elect of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), has chaired the NCSL's Health Information Champions Project (Project HITCh) for the past three years, and is also a Co-Chair of the National Governor's Association's State Alliance for e-Health. Additionally, the Senator has been recognized by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) both nationally and by the state chapter for his work in expanding health IT. Under Sen. Moore's leadership and prodding, Massachusetts has had the highest percentage of electronically issued prescriptions for medication of any state for the past three consecutive years.

With Sen. Moore’s key efforts, state financial support for helping health care providers to expand the use and application of health information technology became an integral part of the landmark Massachusetts Health Reform Law (Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006) and of the Health Care Quality Improvement and Cost Containment Law (Chapter 305 of the Acts of 2008). In addition to providing state funding, Sen. Moore's efforts lead to the establishment of the Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI)—the organization that has been designated by the Governor to administer the $25.6 million now being awarded by the federal government. Sen. Moore also established as state policy the goal of achieving a statewide health information exchange by 2014, and a requirement that all physicians be competent users of health information technology by January 1, 2015.

In November 2009, at Sen. Moore’s urging, Governor Patrick met with officials in Washington to advance specific opportunities for Massachusetts to speed the deployment of electronic medical records through a secure health information exchange network that would safeguard patient privacy. With strong advocacy from Sen. Moore, Governor Patrick and the Congressional Delegation, the Commonwealth has been allocated the full $25.6 million for which the state is eligible from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

“Having a uniform system of electronic medical records throughout the Commonwealth decreases costs and improves patient care,” said Senate President Therese Murray, D-Plymouth, who along with Sen. Moore was one of the architects of Massachusetts’ health care reform law. “One of the key components to the success of our cost containment law is that every provider is able to comply with the mandate and this federal funding will help us move this health care goal forward.”

As part of the $15 million grant to promote the use electronic medical records in small physician practices, MeHI will work with stakeholders and the state’s Health Information Technology (HIT) Council to develop a plan to:

• Review state and federal privacy and security standards and regulations for electronic health records and health information exchange to ensure that private health information is protected;
• Promote and oversee implementation of electronic health records in all provider and hospital settings as part of an interoperable health information exchange;
• Establish a collaborative governance model that actively engages the private sector;
• Create a financially sustainable statewide health information exchange that will facilitate the exchange of clinical and administrative information;
• Develop a strategy for HIT workforce development; and
• Enhance public health and quality reporting. 

Administering the $10.6 million grant to establish a statewide health information exchange, MeHI will serve as one of the nation’s “Regional Extension Centers,” responsible for offering technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to speed deployment of health information technology. MeHI, guided by the state’s HIT Council, will:

• Review state and federal privacy and security standards and regulations for electronic health records and health information exchange to ensure that private health information is protected;
• Develop ad hoc working groups of experts in health technology, privacy and other policy leaders to provide guidance to the HIT Council and MeHI in the certification process; 
• Coordinate the education, outreach and technical assistance required to enable priority providers to achieve meaningful use of certified electronic health record systems; 
• Contract for services to qualified Implementation and Optimization Organizations; 
• Provide grants to Implementing Organizations, as designated by state law, to enable successful adoption of electronic health records, including vendor selection, product implementation, practice redesign, change management and technical support; and 
• Ensure compliance with state and federal standards and policies. 

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes significant provisions pertaining to health information technology. These provisions are referred to as the HITECH Act. The HITECH Act establishes as a goal the use of certified electronic health records for every person in the United States by 2014 and creates reimbursement incentives through Medicare and Medicaid for providers who demonstrate they are “meaningful users” of electronic health records connected through health information exchanges. 

Additional information about the HITECH grants available through the workforce development program is available at http://HealthIT.HHS.gov/ and www.grants.gov. 

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