Health IT Status Report: Interactive Map

iWatch - the center for public integrity, put out an interactive map providing a visual on the status of EHR implementations in the U.S. This map provides a status report on where states stand in distributing Medicaid incentive payments for adoption of health information technology.

It's pretty interesting to look at the data this way on such a hot topic right now. You can see it here:

http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/12/07/7567/interactive-status-report-health-information-technology-states/?utm_source=iwatchnews&utm_medium=site-features&utm_campaign=most-active

The 2009 economic stimulus law signed by President Barack Obama contained $27 billion in federal funds for eligible health providers who install electronic health records and follow government “meaningful use” guidelines to improve patient care. This portion of the law — known as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act — allows incentive payments to providers in  both the Medicare and Medicaid programs.  Medicare is administered by the federal government, while Medicaid is a partnership between federal and state governments.  In the case of the health information technology payments, the Medicaid funds are being distributed by the federal government to the states, territories, and the District of Columbia, for re-distribution to the providers.