Friday, April 26, 2024
4/26/2024
Project Title: Health Information Technology Extension Program: Regional Centers Cooperative Agreement Program Service Area: State of Iowa (Zip Codes 500 - 516, 520 - 528) Applicant Name: IFMC Address: 1776 West Lakes Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Contact Name: Peg Mason Contact Phone Numbers: Voice: (515) 223-2930; Fax: (515) 222-2407 E-Mail Address: pmason@ifmc.org Web Site Address: www.ifmc.org As a result of the 2009 HITECH Act, health care providers nationwide are expected by 2015 to adopt and meaningfully use electronic health records (EHRs). To assist in these efforts, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) will launch a national Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC), and Regional Extension Centers (Regional Centers) through four-year cooperative agreements beginning in 2010. IFMC, the Quality Improvement Organization for Iowa since 1984, is applying to serve as the Regional Center for the state of Iowa. The overall vision is to help primary care providers become meaningful users of certified EHR technology to improve patient care. Providers face a number of challenges in terms of needs assessment, vendor selection, implementation and project management, and workflow redesign. According to ONC, robust local technical assistance has been shown to improve EHR and quality improvement implementation efforts. The Iowa Regional Center will furnish education, outreach, and technical assistance to help providers successfully adopt EHRs and meet meaningful use requirements (to be released by ONC). The majority of program resources will go directly toward on-site support services provided by Regional Center field staff working with practices. IFMC???s mission to ???Optimize the quality of medical care and health through collaborative relationships, education, and health information management,??? will guide us as we offer technical assistance, guidance and information on best practices to providers throughout Iowa. We have significant field experience and staff trained to assist small practices with EHR implementation. IFMC will partner with the InConcertCare, Inc. (INCC) to extend reach to federally supported practices in Iowa. INCC serves community health centers and rural health centers in Iowa and Nebraska, providing comprehensive primary care services to over 170,000 individuals each year. Priority will be given to primary-care providers (e.g., physicians, PAs and NPs) in these settings: individual and small group practices (ten or fewer professionals); public and Critical Access Hospitals; Community Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics; and other settings predominantly serving uninsured, underinsured, and medically underserved populations. Some priority primary-care providers may have already implemented EHR technology. For those practices, technical assistance will focus on optimizing systems to achieve all aspects of meaningful use, including but not limited to electronic health information exchange and quality measure reporting. The Iowa Regional Center will provide federally supported technical assistance to a minimum of 1,200 priority primary-care providers in the first two years to achieve successful adoption and meaningful use of certified EHRs. Federal funding will be heavily weighted in the first 2 years (90% federal/10% matching funds), with significant matching funds required in years 3 and 4. Participating providers may be asked to pay a nominal fee to utilize Iowa Regional Center services. The Regional Center business model contains strategies to achieve matching funds and sustainability.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
