Federal Stimulus Funds
The Ohio Hospital Association has taken steps in conjunction with other provider groups in Ohio to advance health information technology within Ohio.
The State of Ohio has joined with, OHA, the Ohio State Medical Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, and BioOhio to form a public-private collaborative—the Ohio Health Information Partnership (OHIP). The collaborative is funded with $8 million from the Ohio Department of Insurance’s budget using Joint Underwriting Association (no longer active) funds. The funds are to be used for the development and adoption of health information technology in the state. Part of the money will be used to develop a statewide health information exchange and part will be used to develop programs to educate providers on the adoption and use of electronic health records.
Through the coordinated efforts of all the stakeholders, the collaborative is seeking to draw down $70 million of matching funds for use in the development of health information technology in Ohio. It is the intent of OHIP to support local initiatives designed to encourage the use of electronic health records and to develop a loan guarantee program for the purchase of electronic health records software.
Tell Your Local Legislators the Tax Hurts You
March 3, 2010:
OHA created templates letters for CEOs as well as hospital/health system employees to let local legislators know they are angry the hospital is paying a tax to the state when it could be using those funds to hire staff or expand the local economy. With a few simple clicks, the letters can be e-mailed or printed and mailed to local legislators.
View template letter from CEOs
View template letter from hospital/health system employee