The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of understanding that allows rural hospitals and physicians to access capital loan programs to implement health IT, according to a joint message from the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration.
Two USDA Rural Development programs — the Community Facilities Program and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program — are designed to help rural hospitals expand health IT infrastructure. The Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants that can help pay for electronic health records. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program may provide grants to bring telemedicine to rural communities.
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Two USDA Rural Development programs — the Community Facilities Program and Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program — are designed to help rural hospitals expand health IT infrastructure. The Community Facilities Program provides loans and grants that can help pay for electronic health records. The Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant Program may provide grants to bring telemedicine to rural communities.
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