Four state Medicaid programs will receive more than $6.9 million in total matching funds from the CMS to help them implement the electronic health record incentive program created by the stimulus law. This last round of funds brings the total matching dollars awarded to $81.44 million, for 49 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S.Virgin Islands, the CMS said.
Massachusetts received the largest share in the latest round of funding, securing $3.56 million in federal matching funds, while Ohio, Hawaii and North Dakota received $2.29 million, $836,000, and $226,000, respectively. The funds will help the states analyze providers' current use of health information technology, address barriers to EHR use and plan out a strategy for administering incentive payments, the CMS said in a news release.
The HITECH provisions of the stimulus law stipulate that eligible Medicaid providers can receive up to 85% of $75,000 – or $63,750 – in incentive payments over six years for EHR implementation, use and support services.
In addition, the act provides a 90% federal match for states' planning and administration expenses, and 100% federal financial participation for state spending on incentive payments.
