Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has announced 61 of the states' hospitals and health centers will share $23 million in grants to support various improvement projects and initiatives. For the first time, this year's awardees were required to submit a plan for connecting to and using the statewide health information exchange to receive funding.
The new requirement is designed to promote participation in Mass HIWay, the statewide exchange, and help providers in the state provide more coordinated, better quality care.
"This year's new technology requirements will help place Massachusetts at the forefront of healthcare IT while driving down inefficiencies in care," said Secretary of Health and Human Services John Polanowicz in the news release. "This grant will help establish links between diverse healthcare providers and enable hospitals and community health centers across the Commonwealth to quickly access accurate health information, reducing costs, improving patient care and saving lives."
Several of the grants were just for connecting to Mass HIWay and getting the most out of the HIE connection, including $220,000 to Beverly (Mass.) Hospital and $1.08 million to Anna Jacques Hospital in Newburyport.
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