FEDERAL GRANT FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

JOINT STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY AND LT. GOVERNOR ANTHONY G. BROWN ON FEDERAL GRANT FOR HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown released the following statement today congratulating the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) for receiving a $5.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service to establish Regional Extension Centers that help doctors, hospitals and private practices implement health information technology.

“Last month, we applauded President Obama and Vice President Biden for passing health care reform legislation that was more than 100 years in the making. Reform, though, can only be as good as a state’s ability to implement the new standards. We intend to implement reform better than any other state.

“We commend the Department of Health and Human Services and sincerely thank Secretary Sebelius for ensuring that Maryland receives federal support to develop the necessary regional extension centers that will improve the implementation of health information technology. The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients – CRISP – will provide Marylanders with the best access to care and a coordinated system to provide doctors and providers with secure and efficient access to their patients’ records.

“Patients and doctors need better access to information technology and a more robust platform to share important information. This Federal support will go a long way to build on the successful programs many hospitals and practices have already implemented and will, in the long run, save patients, insurers and taxpayers money.”

Earlier this year, the Maryland Health Care Commission received a $9.3 million grant to build upon existing work to create a health information exchange.

CRISP is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide safer, timelier, efficient, effective, equitable, patient-centered health care to all Marylanders through the use of health information technology. With support from a broad coalition of stakeholders in State government as well as health and technology sectors, CRISP is working to implement a statewide health information exchange.

Late last month, following President Obama’s signing of the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act, Governor O’Malley signed an executive order creating the Maryland Health Reform Coordinating Council, co-chaired by Lt. Governor Brown and Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers. The Council will advise the administration on policies and procedures to implement the recent and future federal health care reform legislation as efficiently and effectively as possible. As states assume the critical role of implementing multiple aspects of health care reform, the Council will make policy recommendations and offer implementation strategies to keep Maryland among the leading states in expanding quality, affordable health care while reducing waste and controlling costs.