Funds for Health Information Regional Extension Centers (Regional Centers)
Federal guidance for applications to serve as Regional Centers within the national Health Information Extension Program was issued on August 20, 2009.  Regional Centers will provide education, outreach and technical assistance to health care providers in their geographical areas to select and implement Electronic Health Record (EMR) technology.  Regional Centers will be able to assist health care providers with tasks such as assessing needs, selecting and negotiating with EMR system vendors, implementing project management, and making workflow changes to improve clinical performance and outcomes.  Regional Centers will also help providers to be able to exchange health information through their EMRs.

Regional centers are expected to give priority for assistance to primary care providers in individual and small group practices (ten or fewer professionals with prescriptive privileges) and other settings that serve uninsured, underinsured and medically underserved populations, such as community health centers and rural health clinics. 

Funding for Regional Centers will be awarded in three cycles, with preliminary application deadlines of September 8, 2009, December 22, 2009 and June 1, 2010. Learn more.

Funds for State Health Information Exchange Planning and Implementation
Federal guidance for states to qualify for federal funding for health information exchange technology planning and implementation was issued on August 20, 2009. This funding is for states (or state-designated entities) to create, improve and expand health information exchange (HIE) services and capacity.  The goal of the program is that over time, all health care providers can participate in electronic health information exchange needed to provide more timely and accurate information, improve continuity of care, and reduce unnecessary testing.  The secure exchange of electronic health information is a cornerstone in national efforts to improve health care quality and efficiency. All states are eligible for a share of the funding with funding ranging from $4 million to $40 million based on demographics of the state. 

The Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform (GOHCR) will apply for funding for the commonwealth, in collaboration with the Office for Information Technology in the Office of Administration, and the Departments of Health and Public Welfare.   Detailed strategic and operational plans must be approved by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology before the state can qualify for implementation funding.  Prior to submission of the strategic plan GOHCR will meet with stakeholders and make the draft plan available to the public for written comment.

GOHCR is currently working with its sister state agencies to prepare strategic and operational plans for building the Pennsylvania Health Information Exchange (PHIX).  PHIX will serve as a health care information highway that will allow health care providers to securely share electronic health information. The plan will map out a proposed approach for creating and managing PHIX and will address the following:
• Who should have responsibility to manage the statewide health information exchange and who should make policy decisions about how PHIX will operate?
• How can security and confidentiality best be assured
• How to ensure input from patients and providers on an ongoing basis
• How to address obstacles faced by  Pennsylvania health care providers to participate in electronic health information exchange, such as adequate internet services
• What technical infrastructure can most effectively serve the health exchange needs for Pennsylvania’s diverse health care community
• What is a fair  financing strategy to ensure that PHIX can be self-sustaining after temporary federal and state funding sources are no longer available

A draft strategic plan will be available for public comment in November, 2010. 

Funds for Community Prevention and Wellness
A $375 million funding opportunity available under ARRA for the “Communities Putting Prevention to Work” initiative was announced by HHS on September 17, 2009.  The projects funded will address obesity, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition or tobacco use/exposure. Between 30 and 40 awards are expected to be made.  Application deadline is December 1, 2009, with letters of intent due on October 30, 2009.
 
Eligible applicants for this funding opportunity are:
• Large cities: The official local health department (or its bona fide agent), or its equivalent, as designated by the mayor, county executive, or other equivalent governmental official, will serve as the lead/fiduciary agent for a Large City application.  For this announcement, the term “large city” is defined as a local health department that serves a jurisdiction with a population of more than 1 million people.  
• Urban areas: The official local health department (or its bona fide agent), or its equivalent, as designated by the mayor, county executive, or other equivalent governmental official, will serve as the lead/fiduciary agent for an urban area application.  For this announcement, the term “urban area” is defined as a local health department that serves a jurisdiction with a population more than 500,000 and up to 1 million people.  
• State-coordinated small cities and rural areas: The official state health department (or its bona fide agent), or its equivalent, as designated by the Governor, is to serve as the lead/fiduciary agency for Small City and Rural Community applications.  The term “small city” is defined as a local health department that serves a jurisdiction with a population between 50,000 – 500,000 people.  The term “rural area” is defined as a local health department that serves a jurisdiction with a population of 50,000 people and below. 
• Tribal communities

To address the selected risk factors, awardees are expected to  implement population-based approaches such as policy, systems, and environmental changes across 5 evidence-based MAPPS strategies – Media, Access, Point of decision information, Price and, Social support services – in both communities and schools such that the entire jurisdiction of the health department or tribal area is impacted.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide community programmatic support and tools to strengthen and develop effective strategies tailored to community needs.  Learn more.