HHS’s Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Briefs and Posts FAQs
Regional Extension Centers Grants Webcast reaches 1,250
The August 27, 2009 “Technical Assistance” briefing by ONC senior advisor Dr. Farzad Mostashari about the $598 million grants program for Regional Extension Centers reached an unexpectedly large audience of 1,250 via Webcast and phone connection. The regional centers will be expected to train and provide on-site technical support to primary care providers. Questions that came in digitally and by phone were answered. FAQs were posted the next day.
Webcast materials (slides and transcript) archived on ONC site August 31, 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions on Regional Program Posted by ONC on August 28, 2009 (Main FAQ page) (As of Oct 1, 2009, additional categories have been added and/or updated.)
A. BACKGROUND/GENERAL FAQs
B. FUNDING FAQs (updated Oct 1, 2009)
C. ELIGIBILITY FAQs
D. APPLICATION SUBMISSION FAQs (updated Oct 1, 2009)
E. APPLICATION REVIEW FAQs
F. AWARD ADMINISTRATION FAQs
G. OTHER/MISCELLANEOUS FAQs
As of August 30, 2009, 29 Questions and Answers were posted in the FAQs on the ONC site, and regular changes are expected, so ONC advises to check back frequently. (Updates going on during Sept. 2, 2009.)
Note: The section below was written prior to September 2, 2009 updates.
GENERAL QUESTIONS refer to statutory authority for Regional Centers, Health Information Technology Research Center (HITRC), relationship between HITRC and Regional Centers, role of Regional Centers, “meaningful use” requirements, eligible providers, selecting EHR vendors, HIE, independence from vendors, provider prioritization, definition of primary care providers and number of providers per regional center.
FUNDING QUESTIONS refer to funding levels, budget periods, evaluation process and criteria, matching funds, program income, budget structure, terms and conditions, and basic Regional Center responsibilities.
ELIGIBILITY QUESTION concerns for-profit firms teaming with non-profit organizations.
POTENTIAL APPLICANTS QUESTIONS refer to types of organizations eligible for grants, screening criteria for preliminary application, definition of geographic areas, application process, deadlines, and award dates.
Per the iHealthBeat round up stories, ”ONC said it hopes each (of estimated 70+) extension center(s) will train about 1,500 primary care providers on electronic health record adoption, with the goal of helping 100,000 primary care providers demonstrate ‘meaningful use’ of health IT.”
Here are the two reports quoted by iHealthBeat on the Webcast from
–Joseph Conn, of Modern Healthcare’s HITS, on August 28, 2009.
Modern Healthcare reader corrects revenue stream explanation.
–Paul McCloskey, of Government Health IT, on August 28, 2009.
Mostashari served as assistant commissioner of the New York City Department of Health. The program he led in New York has brought 1,000 physicians, serving one million people primarily in underserved areas, on to electronic health records in the past two years, as reported in the New York Times by Steve Lohr on February 28, 2009.
Facts-in-Brief
Plan: Fund 70 regional extension centers in three waves in the federal fiscal year which begins October 1, 2009.
National Goal: Enable 100,000 of 240,000 primary care physicians in US to provide “meaningful use” via EHRs by 2013.
Regional Goal: Each regional extension center will be expected to train at least 1,000 primary care physicians by 2013 on using EHRS to deliver “meaningful use,” with an average of 1,500 physicians per center.
Regional Center Job: “To deliver the outreach, education, and (on-site) technical assistance services necessary to provide “meaningful use” by primary care providers.
Primary Care Providers Definition: “Any doctor of medicine or osteopathy, any nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, or physician assistant with prescriptive privileges…who is actively practicing one of the following specialties: family, internal, pediatric, or obstectrics and gynecology.”
“Meaningful Use” : “Meaningful Use” activities for Medicare providers will include “meaningful use” of certified EHRs, ability to demonstrate the electronic exchange of information to improve quality of health, and reporting of clinical quality measures.
EHR Selection: Regional Centers will offer “unbiased advice on the EHRs and other HIT products that will enable achievement of the meaningful use requirements…,” while avoiding “actual or apparent conflict of interest,” though Regional Centers may offer group purchasing arrangements with mutliple vendors.
States: “States or other government organizations may partner with a nonprofit institution or organization to apply for an award.”
First Mover Advantage: Dr. Mostashari explained on the Webcast that since each regional center will have an exclusive geographic territory, the first non-profit entities to win awards will carve out their territories subject to negotiation with ONC and will maintain those territories going forward. Those first regional centers to be funded are probably already in the process of supporting EHR implementation.
Key Dates for Submissions: Preliminary applications are due Sept. 8, 2009 for first wave, Dec. 22, 2009 for second wave, and June 1, 2010 for third wave. See prior post for remainder of schedule: http://www.e-healthcaremarketing.com/archives/897
Webcast materials (slides and transcript) archived on ONC site August 31, 2009.
