Maine's HealthInfoNet, the state's designated health information exchange, was awarded $4.7 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, just as Gov. John E. Baldacci issued an executive order creating two new state entities responsible for the expansion and coordination of healthcare IT.
This sum is in addition to $6.5 million in stimulus money disbursed to the project in February, which is earmarked for development of a statewide healthcare information technology plan.
As the award was announced, Baldacci issued an executive order creating two new state entities responsible for the expansion and coordination of healthcare IT. As required by ARRA, the Office of the State Coordinator for Health Information Technology will operate from within the Governor's Office of Health Policy and Finance. Baldacci also announced the establishment of a new Health Information Technology Steering Committee.
According to the governor's executive order, the Office of the State Coordinator will serve as a focal point and clearinghouse for the state's healthcare IT policy, assuring coherent and collaborative cross-agency planning, developing and disseminating public information about healthcare IT through partnerships with stakeholders, and working collaboratively with HealthInfoNet.
The new Health Information Technology Steering Committee (HITSC), meanwhile, "shall advise the Office of the State Coordinator for HIT in developing the vision, goals, and prioritization areas for advancing HIT and HIE across Maine and to develop appropriate governance, oversight, and accountability mechanisms to assure success."
“This is an important step in reaching our goal to increase quality and efficiency in healthcare delivery,” said Baldacci in a statement. “With our public and private partners, we have been working hard to improve [the] care that all Maine people receive. All together, the additional funds and the creation of the state infrastructure to support and plan for collaborative efforts to advance health information technology will help Maine meet the goals of the state and the federal government.”
