Earlier this month, CMS announced that California will receive nearly $2.5 million to encourage electronic health record adoption among health care providers who serve beneficiaries of Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program.
State officials say they plan to use the funds to evaluate California’s health information technology efforts and develop a plan for further adoption.
In a California Healthline Special Report by Kelly Wilkinson, experts discussed the possible impact of federal health IT funds.
The Special Report includes comments from:
- Kim Ortiz of the California Department of Health Care Services’ Office of Health IT Activities;
- Sean South, spokesperson for the California Primary Care Association; and
- Mary Szecsey, executive director of Sonoma County’s West County Health Centers.
Officials say the influx of federal health IT funds comes at a time when many Medi-Cal providers are struggling with recent state budget cuts (Wilkinson, California Healthline, 12/23).