Federal Stimulus Funds
The Ohio Hospital Association has taken steps in conjunction with other provider groups in Ohio to advance health information technology within Ohio.
The State of Ohio has joined with, OHA, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, and BioOhio to form a public-private collaborative—the Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP). The collaborative is funded with $8 million from the Ohio Department of Insurance’s budget using Joint Underwriting Association (no longer active) funds. The funds are to be used for the development and adoption of health information technology in the state. Part of the money will be used to develop a statewide health information exchange and part will be used to develop programs to educate providers on the adoption and use of electronic health records.
Through the coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders, the collaborative is seeking to draw down $70 million of matching funds for use in the development of health information technology in Ohio. It is the intent of OHIP to support local initiatives designed to encourage the use of electronic health records and to develop a loan guarantee program for the purchase of electronic health records software.
OHA Media Statement - President Barack Obama FFY 2013 Budget
February 15, 2012:
Earlier this week President Barack Obama’s administration released the FFY 2013 federal budget spending and policy targets. The package proposes a total of $364 billion in health savings over ten years, including $268 billion in Medicare provider cuts and $51 billion in Medicaid cuts. After review of this budget, OHA has made this initial statement:
“Ohio hospitals strongly believe all critical aspects of the health care system must be adequately supported, without undercutting some segments to provide for others. In the federal budget proposal submitted by President Obama, programs that provide training for future physicians, assure access to care in rural communities and support health care for the low-income seniors, families and children are all put at risk. As Congress begins to review this budget and addresses more immediate concerns with physician payment cuts, unemployment compensation and payroll taxes, hospitals welcome the opportunity to demonstrate how proposed budget cuts could have unintended consequences of health care job losses and reduced access to care,” said Mike Abrams, president and CEO of the Ohio Hospital Association.
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