On September 28, 2007 New York's Department of Health (DOH) will host an applicant conference to discuss the $105.75 million funding that is available to promote health IT (HIT) community collaborations throughout the state. The DOH recently released a request for grant applications (RGA) for the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers Capital Grant Program (HEAL NY Program) Phase 5 HIT grants.

The HEAL NY Program was established three years ago to invest funding to improve patient care and to create health care efficiencies. To date, over $300 million in awards have been made.

The Phase 5 HIT Grants will provide funding for health information infrastructure projects to build upon the first phase of the HEAL NY program, which awarded funding for regional collaborations to advance interoperability by creating online health networks, web-based Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and ePrescribing capabilities.

The grants will be awarded for projects that support HIT priorities such as clinical investments and patient care improvements in three categories of applications for New York's HIT framework, including the Statewide Health Information Network for New York (SHIN-NY), Clinical Information Systems (CIS), and Information Tools for Clinicians, Consumers and Community (3Cs).

New York is only looking for Regional Health Information Organizations (RHIOs) and Community Health Information Technology Adoption Collaborations (CHITAs) to submit applications. The RHIOs are required to be non-governmental organizations in New York. The RHIOs will partner with health information services providers (HISP) or vendors for technologies such as software or technical integration services. The CHITAs, or the collaboration of ambulatory clinicians and provider participants, are required to have a participating entity that will act as the lead applicant in contracting with the state.

Awards can range from $1 million to $10 million over a two-year period, with an option to renew the contract for up to two additional one-year periods for project completions. Questions are due October 12th and the deadline for applications is November 19th. It is expected that agreements will begin around the first quarter of 2008.

INPUT's Take:

With the upcoming release of a state strategic HIT implementation plan and this additional big money funding, New York has emerged as an investment leader in advancing HIT adoption. In the Phase 5 HIT grant, the DOH is only inviting two types of eligible applicants to submit applications, the RHIOs and CHITAs. However, vendors in this market space are encouraged to review the state's HIT strategy and activities, and participate where they can. There will be an advantage for the collaborative organizations which have already selected vendors, as the grant evaluation process will take into consideration the applicant's readiness to begin the projects.