AHRQ to aid Medicaid, SCHIP in health IT adoption

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is preparing a program to assist Medicaid agencies and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs (SCHIP) in adopting IT and joining health information exchanges (HIEs).

“These populations have much to gain from the coordination of care that can be realized from the adoption of health IT and HIE,” the agency stated in a notice published Feb. 20 in the Federal Register. “Furthermore, as the largest healthcare purchaser in the United States, Medicaid can influence the adoption of health IT and HIE by providers of care.”

Under the proposal, AHRQ plans to conduct a detailed needs assessment survey with Medicaid and SCHIP programs. The information will be used to develop technical assistance workshops, web seminars, printed technical materials and other tools to assist the state programs in adopting IT, the agency said.

The projected cost of the program is nearly $3 million over three years. More information is available at www.gpoaccess.gov.

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