AHRQ to aid Medicaid, SCHIP with information technology

ROCKVILLE, Md. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is preparing a program to aid Medicaid agencies and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs in adopting information technology and joining health information exchanges.

“These populations have much to gain from the coordination of care that can be realized from the adoption of health information technology and health information exchange,” the agency stated in a notice published Feb. 20 in the Federal Register. “Furthermore, as the largest health care purchaser in the U.S., Medicaid can influence the adoption of health I.T. and HIE by providers of care.”

Under the proposal, AHRQ will conduct a detailed needs assessment survey with Medicaid and SCHIP programs. The information will be used to develop technical assistance workshops, Web seminars, printed technical materials and other tools to assist the state programs in adopting I.T.