Issue Brief 09-08 ARRA Continues Health Centers Expansion, March 11, 2009
November 10, 2009: ARRA Funding to Improve Care in Ambulatory Surgical Centers The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the availability of up to $9 million in ARRA funding for state survey agencies targeted at reducing health care-associated infections (HAIs) in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). Additional information is available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091110a.html
October 1, 2009: HHS Announces Awards for Health Care Recruitment HHS announced 63 awards totaling more than $7.6 million to help states recruit new health care clinicians and alleviate their debt burden. The funds are part of the $500 million included in ARRA to address workforce shortages and encourage diversity in the health professions. A list of grants by state is available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090930c.html
September 29, 2009: HHS Releases ARRA Funds to Health Centers HHS released $27.8 million in ARRA funds to health centers to expand the use of health information technology (HIT). These funds are part of the $2 billion in ARRA to expand health centers. For a list of grant recipients, see: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090929a.html
September 29, 2009: HHS Releases Funds for Prevention, Wellness Programs HHS announced the release of $120 million in cooperative agreements approved as part of ARRA for prevention and wellness programs for states and territories. The cooperative agreements will be awarded to states and territories for three components: statewide policy and environmental change, tobacco cessation through quit lines and media campaigns, and special initiatives to create health-promoting policies and environments. The application deadline is November 24, 2009. For more information, see: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090929b.html
September 17, 2009: Funding for Prevention and Wellness HHS announced that $650 million in funding included in ARRA would be used to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, decrease obesity, and decrease smoking in U.S. communities. HHS released information on a funding opportunity for communities and tribes to apply for $373 million in cooperative agreements for the comprehensive public health initiative, Communities Putting Prevention to Work, to be led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090917a.html
September 11, 2009: Additional Training Funds for Health Professions HHS announced an additional $33 million in ARRA funds to train health professions. These funds are part of the $500 million to address workforce shortages under ARRA. The press release and awards by state are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/09/20090911b.html
September 1, 2009: HIT Provisions The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) releaseda State Medicaid Director Letter on the Health Information Technology (HIT) provisions inARRA. ARRA allows for 100% federal financial participation (FFP) for state expenditures for Medicaid provider incentivepayments to encourage electronic health record (EHR) technologyand for demonstrating meaningful use. According to the letter, upon receipt, states may immediately request the 90% FFP match for administrative planning activities. The letter also advises states to immediately contact their CMS regional office for further guidance and maintain ongoing communication while initiating planning activities. The guidance statesthat planning activities are for the purposes of administering the incentive payments to providers, ensuring their proper payments, auditing and monitoring of such payments, and participating in statewide efforts to promote interoperability and meaningful use of EHRs. CMS indicated the agency is developing rulemaking that will provide more detailed instruction on provider eligibility and rules for participation. The proposed rulemaking is expected by the end of this year. The letter is available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SMDL/SMD/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=0&sortByDID=1&sortOrder=descending&itemID=CMS1228276&intNumPerPage=1
August 2009: HAI Prevention Funding ARRA included $50 million to support states in the prevention and reduction of health care-associated infections (HAI). Recovery.gov recently posted a website on this initiative: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/recoveryact/
August 20, 2009:HHS Announces HITECH Grants HHS announced the first two HITECH priority grant programs. Specifically, $564 million is being made available under the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Agreement Program and $598 million through the Health Information Technology Extension Program. The grant announcement and program fact sheets are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/hitech/index.html
August 19, 2009: HIPAA Update HHS released interim final regulations requiring health care providers,health plans, and other entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to notify individuals when their health information is breached. These regulationsimplement provisions of ARRA. The rule and additional information are available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/coveredentities/breachnotificationifr.html
August 12, 2009: Loan Repayments to Nurses HHS announced $8.1 million for loan repayments to nurses who agree to practice in facilities with critical shortages and $5.3 million for schools of nursing to provide loans to students who will become nurse faculty. Press Release: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/08/20090812a.html
July 30, 2009: ARRA Funding for Ambulatory Surgical Centers HHS announced that 12 states would receive $572,250 in ARRA funding to survey more than 125 ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) to ensure that the facilities are following Medicare's health and safety standards. A list of awards and additional information is available by clicking here.
July 28, 2009: ARRA Funds Available for Health Professions Training HHS announced the availability of $200 million in ARRA funds to expand health professions training programs. The funds will be directed to several programs and awarded on a competitive basis. Additional information is available at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/07/20090728c.html and http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/recovery/
June 16, 2009: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released the preliminary definition of meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). ARRA included incentive payments for eligible Medicare and Medicaid providers to increase the adoption of EHRs. To receive the incentive payments, providers must demonstrate "meaningful use" of a certified EHR. The public comment period on the preliminary definition of meaningful use is open through close of business Friday, June 26, 2009. Instructions on how to submit public comment can be found at: http://healthit.hhs.gov.
June 5, 2009: Loan Repayments Funds for Clinicians HHS announced the availability of $200 million in ARRA funds to support student loan repayments for primary care medical, dental, and mental health clinicians who want to work at National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites. In exchange for the loan repayments, clinicians serve for two years with the Corps. Primary care practitioners interested in applying for loan repayments should visit http://nhsc.hrsa.gov.
April 17, 2009: Patient Privacy Guidance HHS published guidance regarding technologies and methodologies to secure health information and protect patient privacy. The guidance, required by ARRA, builds on the existing requirements of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. The guidance is available at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/.
NIH Grants The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the availability of $1.5 billion in grants funded by ARRA. The grants provide $1 billion for construction and improvement of research facilities, $200 million for scientific research and $300 million for the purchase of scientific equipment. More information and grant applications are available at http://grants.nih.gov/recovery.
Indian Health The Indian Health Service will release $500 million in ARRA funds allocated for improvements in Indian health. Funds will be used for health facilities construction and maintenance, equipment and health information technology. http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/ihs/fundingdescription.html
