The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (Washington, D.C.) has published additional information on a $598 million grant program to fund creation of about 70 Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers.
Mandated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the centers will help hospitals and physicians select, acquire and use EHR systems. Preliminary applications for the first $189 million in funds are due on Sept. 8, with awards made in mid-December. The deadline for preliminary applications in a second funding round of $225 million is Dec. 22; the third round of $184 million has a June 1, 2010, deadline.
ONC also has issued a revised preliminary application template, published the transcript of an Aug. 27 technical assistance conference call and expanded its Frequently Asked Questions section.
