Health IT Funding Initiative Supports Rural Kentucky Providers Transitioning to Electronic Healthcare Systems

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 18, 2014) -- More than 85 national and state rural health stakeholders came together Oct. 16 in Somerset to discuss Health Information Technology (Health IT) funding initiatives provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA) and the State of Kentucky to help rural Kentucky providers access financial resources to meet Meaningful Use and Health IT challenges in the years to come.

This collaboration aimed to streamline and improve the effectiveness of programs serving  rural America by helping resource strapped rural health care providers, including critical access and rural hospitals as well as Federally Qualified Health Centers and mental health clinics, leverage the full suite of complementary federal, regional, and state financial assistance programs to ensure that rural Americans can benefit from local access to care powered by the full range of Health IT applications, including mobile health, telehealth and electronic health record technology.

“Health IT is a critical foundation for making high-quality, safe and affordable health care available to all Americans,” said guest speaker Leila Samy, Rural Health IT Coordinator for Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). “Financing these projects is a big challenge for rural healthcare organizations, which makes it critical to leverage all of these existing programs.”

The day-long workshop included a current and future state review of healthcare and Health IT in Kentucky, presentations from various state and federal entities on respective funding opportunities currently available, and  a collaborative session to align participants immediate Health IT funding needs with known potential funding sources.

With more than 100 registrants and more than 85 people in attendance, the workshop was a success. However, the work has just begun. The next step is to form a cohort for further funding opportunities and continued assistance.

Those unable to attend the workshop may access the event materials at KentuckyREC.com/ruralhealthfunding. Rural healthcare provider organizations interested in pursuing these funding opportunities and joining the cohort may contact Kentucky Regional Extension Center at 859-323-3090 or kyrec@uky.edu.

Partners in this effort include Kentucky Regional Extension Center, The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE), The Center for Rural Development, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Kentucky Office of Rural Health, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and Delta Regional Authority (DRA).