In an effort to create interoperable learning health systems, the ONC has granted $38 million to 20 awardees to support their health IT initiatives.
The grants stem from programs funded by the HITECH Act of 2009 that help shape the way providers are paid and help improve and innovate in care delivery. There are three agreement programs:
- Advance Interoperable Health Information Technology to Support Health Information Exchange: Twelve states were awarded a total of $29.6 million to support their HIE technology, tools and services and integrate health IT to support care processes and decision making.
- The Community Health Peer Learning Program: This program, which was allotted $2.2 million, focuses on population health strategies, including identifying data solutions, developing best practices and learning guides and informing national strategy.
- The Workforce Training Program: The ONC dedicated $6.7 million to update training materials from the Workforce Curriculum Development that was funded by the HITECH Act to include materials on new technologies in various settings.
"We have made great strides in the adoption and use of health IT. As we move beyond adoption to a learning health system where information is available when and where it matters most, it is important to ensure greater care coordination at the community level, and these grants provide resources to meet this goal," said National Coordinator Karen DeSalvo, MD.
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