California Efforts To Win Health IT Funds Backed by Foundation
Because of California's budget deficit, the California HealthCare Foundation is contributing to efforts to help the state qualify for federal economic stimulus funds for health information technology projects, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.
CHCF is the publisher of California Healthline.
Sam Karp, vice president for programs at CHCF, estimates that California could receive about $3 billion in stimulus funds for health IT.
CHCF is providing:
- $2 million in matching funds for the state to apply for federal funding to create a $10 million fund to extend loans for electronic health records to health care providers who then can receive Medicare and Medicaid incentives for using EHRs; and
- Matching funds for administrative costs of a program that will provide Medicaid incentive payments for providers that use EHRs.
Karp said CHCF could provide as much as $500,000 toward the second effort.
In addition, Karp said the foundation is providing $450,000 to hire a consulting firm to help the state Department of Health Care Services devise a plan for the stimulus funds (Perry, Chronicle of Philanthropy, 5/21). This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.