How Have HRSA Grants Helped Or Hindered EHR Meaningful Use?

Has $176.9 million in Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grants to networks of health centers sufficiently increased the meaningfulness of their EHR adoption and use? According to the Office of Inspector General, the answer to that question is both yes and no.

A recent OIG report on EHR implementation through HRSA grants to health center controlled networks (HCCNs) reveals that most recipients are capable of capturing data in line with objectives in the first phase of the EHR Incentive Programs, Stage 1 Meaningful Use; however, fewer of these HCCNs have the capacity to enable the sharing of information.

“Establishing the capability for objectives relating to sharing data often requires health centers to incur additional EHR-related costs,” the report states. “Although 76 percent of health centers reported facing financial sustainability challenges, grantee progress reports contained limited information related to the financial sustainability of EHR systems at health centers.”