Replies to post #37879 on MMRGlobal, Inc. (fka MMRF)

[Tapco1]

BRWtpilot - Looks like a nice tie into MMR and Visi.

tap

[EZ2]

ABILITY Network Advances Minnesota Department of Health e-Health Funding Effort

Helps Underserved and Rural Hospitals Build HIE Capacity


11/17 08:08 AM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ABILITY Network Inc™, the nation’s largest and most secure web-based health network, announced today they are advancing the State of Minnesota e-Health Funding Grant Awards by assisting qualifying hospitals and clinics who meet eligibility apply for the grant awards that help build Health Information Exchange (HIE) capacity and achieve HIE capability.

The 2011 Minnesota e-Health Connectivity Grant Program for Health Information Exchange (HIE) was announced October 26.It will provide grant awards up to $10,000 to help health care providers and hospitals in rural and underserved areas build HIE capacity and receive first year’s subscription costs for a State-Certified Health Information Exchange Service Provider. In particular, it will:

Assist qualifying clinics and hospitals in rural and underserved communities who are potentially eligible, or employ professionals that are potentially eligible, for federal incentives for meaningful use of an EHR and must have a certified EHR partially implemented (installed and in use for some staff and providers) OR fully implemented (installed and in use for all [more than 90%] staff and providers).
Assist rural pharmacies serving ambulatory patients in cities with populations <10,000 that are currently unable to accept electronic prescriptions or meet the requirements for exchange without updating their existing systems.
Grant awards range up to $10,000 and will be reviewed and evaluated on a first come, first served basis. Visit the Minnesota e-Health Connect webpage for more information on this new funding opportunity including the Program Guidance and Grant Application.

ABILITY was certified this past June as the State of Minnesota’s first Health Data Intermediary (HDI) to streamline the exchange of healthcare data for the benefit of patients, providers and payers. Through this certification, ABILITY is also authorized to provide the infrastructure to connect computer systems or other electronic devices used by healthcare providers, laboratories, pharmacies, health plans, third-party administrators, or pharmacy benefit managers to facilitate the secure transmission of health information. ABILITY has demonstrated its commitment to secure health communication through its collaboration with the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology’s Direct Project.

“As a State-Certified HIE Providers, we felt ABILITY should take a leadership role in assisting qualified providers to secure a grant and advance secure electronic exchange of data among Minnesota health care entities to streamline patient care,” said John Feikema, ABILITY President. To request ABILITY’s assistance in applying for a grant call 612.277.3908 or e-mail [e-mail]

For additional information regarding Minnesota e-Health please visit www.health.state.mn.us/e-health

About ABILITY Network™
ABILITY works to save lives by facilitating information exchange and knowledge-sharing among every participant within the healthcare spectrum – hospitals, physician practices, home care providers, DMEs, and private and government payers – as well as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In use for more than a decade in more than 3,000 hospitals across the country, ABILITY’s network supports healthcare decision makers in their quest to promote care coordination and collaboration, reduce record fragmentation, participate in new and emerging care models, and access the Direct Project network and state and community-based Health Information Exchanges (HIEs). Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Source: ABILITY Network